LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


920.07737 
P838 


HUMS  HISTOfiHAt  SiUKY 


I 


AlA 


n 


RECORD f 


—OF— 


liffingham,  Jasper  and 


Richland  Counties 

ILLINOIS 


CONTAINING 


Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 

Sovernors  °f  th.  itaie,  and  of  UIB  Iresidents 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHICAGO 

LAKE  CITY  PUBLISHING   CO. 
1893 


HE  greatest  of  English  historians,  MACAULAT,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  writers  of 
the  present  century,  has  said:  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 
RECORD  of  ^jg  county  has  been  prepared.  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  then- 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry  and  economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  many,  very 
many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  country's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  ^the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coining  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.     Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possiblr 
given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them 
selves  that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.     In  addition  to  the  biograpb 
ical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  sorr.o  member  of 
the  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

.Inly,   18'Jt!.  LAKH.  CITY  PUHLISHING  Co. 


4 


OF  THE 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS, 


AND  OFTHE 


OF  THE 


FIJiST  PRESIDENT. 


GEORGE  WA 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  prosperous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.  His  spelling  was  rather  defective 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physica-s 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  1 4  years  old  he  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him. 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with"  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.  Tb« 


2O 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


irip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  leveling  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
if  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  member  of  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  to  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  every  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation-of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February, 1 7 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judgment  could  discern  the  golden  mean  ;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  yeais  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France. 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  i  2,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  bepn  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  heing ;  dull. 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


gforftej?*.. 


^* 


*  A 


lW.A^a~t.A*,,t^»^^^^^^ 

•  —«-,#•*; 


OHN  ADAMS,  the  second 
President  and  the  first  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
Quincy  ),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1 640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
''school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
jils,  of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdir.6  a  town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 


tions  he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocates  of  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himselt 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  th° 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies) 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  H$ 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  avei 
appointed  June  n,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  tha 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says, "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent  states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God.  It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  show*. 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
delegate  to  France,  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home,- 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pvoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  goto  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  and  despond- 
ing, he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
.lis  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years.he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

^Vhile   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Europe, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "  It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests,was  intellectual  ard  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  hii 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


THOMA 


- 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 

born  April  2,  1743,  at  Shad- 
»well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 

His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)  Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six 
daughters  and  two  sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When  14  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,  hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.  In  1760  he  entered  William 
end  Mary  College.  Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a. id  splendor.  Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then  17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,  yet  lie- 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.  It  is  strange,  However,  under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.  In  the  sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded  his  horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.  He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard  study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
(ireck  authors  he  read  with  facility.  A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  forth  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy. and  highly  accomplished  young  widow 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  yet 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  Congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
eoverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Monticello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  i,  1794.  In  17 97,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
southwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
*  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
lic, and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  pait  of  tht 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  nc 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha'; 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom  ;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  courtenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic  ;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a.  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


FOURTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
President'of  the  United  States, 
was  bom  March  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   republic  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  the    United 
States  to   be   called   to   his   eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducted 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
i  ,S  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf  - 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the  Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;  and  their  anmeciation  of  his 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
i  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  .up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention ;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  Si  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  vespect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  tne  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects  ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat ;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  i8t3,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
dilator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  atGhent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


ft*-- 


'FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
Presidentof  The  United  States, 
was  bom  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in ;  and  the  lories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
]x>litical  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  o.  lie  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  avolun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  which  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  public  good, 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
thinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate ;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic'nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
ibination  of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
tight  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstrations. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeats.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.*  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  -was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Department 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  ol 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States ;  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "  Monroe  doctrine.' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows :  "  That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
]x>wers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.  In  that  city  he  died. on  the  4th  of  July.  1831 


X 


,   «~«  f-  6y»v5 


SIXTH  PRESIDENT. 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his   honored   father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  i  ith  cf  July,  1767.  His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exalted 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant   ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When   but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  of  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
John  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  :,tudy;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  Amsterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea's  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  lalxjr  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
to  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
rus  studies,  under  ;i  pri-'nte  tutor,  at  Hague.  Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  tt 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  of 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte" 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education, 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  ii 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1 7 97, -he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Benin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  waiting  he  was  married  to  ar. 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughte! 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  I  ondon 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  tU| 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  w^s 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled alt  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  •  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  ;he  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  Candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty -one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
be  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
:ombined  in  a.  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  There  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
*!>«  l»ast  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle'  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination  , 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2istof  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  .-"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  added,  "  /  am  con/frit"  These  were  the 
last  words  of  the  grand  "Old  Man  Eloquent." 


SEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  0., 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  emigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes,— one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful  irv  obtaining  their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illnes:. 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  such  a» 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  oi 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmisb 
with  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  wht> 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his   profes 
sion,  and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he   killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  elevi  < 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegates/ 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  i» 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress  then  held  its 


44 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight  hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
•with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,-  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions ;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  n  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men,  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  271)1  of  March.  1814.  The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suply  of  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  its  terriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  upon  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men. 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but, in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  mc-morabie 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  oyone  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  hi* 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's life  were  that  of  a  devoted  Christian  man. 


/  7 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth     President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July   24,    1862.      His 
body  rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a.  plain  granite   shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up  on  one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  U  out  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romant'c  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

Ae  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
Before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
d  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  After 
spending  six  years  in  an  office  in  bjs  native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  tlv 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  th* 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump. 
tion,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  ovei 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was; 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to, 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the  most 
piominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  had 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that  ''  universal  suffrage "  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
>n  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  ;,  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
Conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Vresidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
.he  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
''State  Rights "  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
Adeemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
^eat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
\dams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded throughout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
stealthily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
refused  to  ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu 
live.  On  the  2oth  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  fron; 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwa'id. 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life- 


• 


UBMRYO.OFI.JRBAM-CIHIKPAIGN 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington ,  v>  as  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and   John    Hancock   were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
then  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
.obert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  Temonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
/laving  obtain^  a  commission  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  lie  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  ''  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil- 
liam Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap. 
pointed  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrison 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  Abou' 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "  The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe  the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side,  and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
jus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned:  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore them,  and  completely  routing  the  foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can - 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  from  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a.  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances,  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  -National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  Attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re-nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects,  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


SS 


OHN    TYLER,     the    tenth 
Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high    social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with    great   assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly   with    his 
father   and   partly  with   Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
I  et  of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
not  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  e'ected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General 


ment,  a  protective  tariff,  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.  His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.  Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  There  was  a  split  in  the  Democratic 


JOHN  TYLER. 


j»arty.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
1839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  North :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  .cund  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  to  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honest  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Haarison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days"  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.  He  suggested,  however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance 
between  (he  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife, 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unssual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State., 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Ca\- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,  he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


5t 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and    Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1806,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  fainly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry  Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail ;  and  his 
father,  fearing  that  he  might  not  bf  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind  the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Folk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeflersonian  Republican,- 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adhered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  ^speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
lie  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and 


Go 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


courterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo)  s  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinued in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous ;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House.  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  i/jth  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Urrion  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
Other  States,  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wai 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Folk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion, "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Folk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  151)1  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fiftv-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


K&L 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
father  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Indians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison,on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
ied  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,   many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 

best  could.    There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR 


tellectuai  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  ^Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty -four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
femployments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
'beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
,In  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
iia<?  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
(o  the  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
lifter,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
imidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula,  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
.and  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
jit  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
H«re  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
Imposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Tayfor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
Ibeing  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Pa.ima,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Euena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
fences  much  larger  than  he  commanded, 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
\\ ^  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
?lTead  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
V\  hig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
fu(  popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 
bred, honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
i'sesidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an-- 
ncuncement,  and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  toil;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
oft  ice.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
foi  forty  years,  he  hud  net  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
wlio  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
0.  ;ir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose  name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  pth  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  -I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  Inshor* 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortabic,  1->>vw. 
saving  contempt  for  learnii  g  of  every  kind.' 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
teenth Presidentof  the  United 
States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  AbiatharMillard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
the  mi!1,  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  lie  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed; 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  tha? 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about* 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
lie  liberally  educated  if  he  has  gindnated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halls 
nnd  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  meaiis  as 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degree  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  him  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was  elected  Comptroller  of  the  State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent  at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  gth  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura^ 
tion,  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  com  promise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more,  having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,  1874. 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


v- 


RANKLIN    PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth   President  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,   N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a   home   in   the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though   uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play -ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar ;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  of  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en' 
tering,  all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  18.33,  at  tne  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied,  Of  the 


&RANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  2-jih  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
btrenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
inous  fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  1 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
and  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pieicc' 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States  on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be 
tween  slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  Ii  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "irrepressible  conflict  "  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 
On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

.  When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladened  by  his  material  bounty 


FIFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,  on 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young-bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers  en- 


own  strong  arms. 


abled  him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wi  "- 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  clas-j.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
'commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  01 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  foi 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  whicl, 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  ir( 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster. 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  the  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  making  repri- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the 
course  of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and 
wholesale  removal  from  office  of  those  who  were 
not  the  supporters  of  his  administration.  Upon 
this  question  he  was  brought  into  direct  collision 
with  Henry  Clay.  He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  ad- 
vocated expunging  from  the  journal  of  the  Senate 
the  vote  of  censure  against  Gen.  Jackson  for  remov- 
ing the  deposits.  Earnestly  he  opposed  the  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and 
urged  the  prohibition  of  the  circulation  of  anti- 
slavery  documents  by  the  United  States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  ad- 
vocated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received ; 
and  that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Con- 
gress had  no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject. 
"Congress,"  said  he,  "might  as  well  undertake  to 
interfere  with  slavery  under  a  foreign  government 
as  in  any  of  the  States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Folk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct 
of  the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  cross- 
ing the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the 
disputed  territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mex- 
icans to  cross  the  Rio  Grande  into  that  territory 
was  a  declaration  of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read 
with  pleasure  the  account  of  the  course  our  Gov- 
ernment pursued  in  that  movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of 
1850,  which  included  the  fugitive  slave  law.  Mr. 
Pierce,  upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  hon- 
ored Mr.  Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency. 
The  political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe 
in  which  our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the 
friends  of  slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advo- 
cates of  its  restriction  and  final  abolition  on  the 
other.  Mr.  Fremont,  the  candidate  of  the  enemies 
of  slavery,  received  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan received  174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular 
vote  stood  1,340,618  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for 
Buchanan.  On  March  4,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only 
four  years  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  three-score 
years  and  ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom 
he  had  been  allied  in  political  principles  and  action 
for  years,  were  seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, that  they  might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our 
free  institutions  a  nation  whose  corner-stone  should 


be  human  slavery.  In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan was  hopelessly  bewildered.  He  could  not, 
with  his  long-avowed  principles,  consistently  op- 
pose the  State-rights  party  in  their  assumptions.  As 
President  of  the  United  States,  bound  by  his  oath 
faithfully  to  administer  the  laws,  he  could  not, 
without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind,  unite  with 
those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  Republic.  He 
therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard- 
bearer  in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro- 
slavery  party  declared  that  if  he  were  elected  and 
the  control  of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from 
their  hands  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  tak- 
ing with  them  as  they  retired  the  National  Capi- 
tol at  Washington  and  the  lion 's  share  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slave- 
holders, claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan avowing  that  Congress  had  no  power  to 
prevent  it,  one  of  the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of 
governmental  imbecility  was  exhibited  the  world 
has  ever  seen.  He  declared  that  Congress  had  no 
power  to  enforce  its  laws  in  any  State  which  had 
withdrawn,  or  which  was  attempting  to  withdraw, 
from  the  Union.  This  was  not  the  doctrine  of  An- 
drew Jackson,  when,  with  his  hand  upon  his  sword- 
hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "The  Union  must  and  shall  be 
preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860,  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  de- 
spair. The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  Ft. 
Sumter  was  besieged;  our  forts,  navy -yards  and 
arsenals  were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores 
were  plundered;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post- 
offices  were  appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels  and  the  imbecility  of 
our  Executive  were  alike  marvelous.  The  nation 
looked  on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to 
glide  away  and  close  the  administration,  so  ter- 
rible in  its  weakness.  At  length  the  long-looked- 
for  hour  of  deliverance  came,  when  Abraham  Lin- 
coln was  to  receive  the  scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his 
fame,  that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its 
billows  of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no 
word  came  from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that 
our  country's  banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag 
of  the  Rebellion.  He  died  at  his  Wheatland  re- 
treat, June  1,  1868. 


SIXTEENTH  PRE^/DENT. 


ABRAHAM  > 


LINCOLN.  > 


BRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
United  States,  was  horn  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
1809.  About  the  year  1780,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled 
with  the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin ;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
J.iborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  built  a  log- 
rabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"  All  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother.  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana,  Whev« 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  "ead 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committed  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  siste» 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mai  > 
ried  when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  ;n  1830 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  then 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  oi 
education,  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  became 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shall  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  v-.i;, ;"  and  a  profane  expression  ha 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborei 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  dowt 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mia 
sissippi  to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin 
coin  undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  giv*. 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  In  this  adven 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
yeais  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  torrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1 839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
;he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  1860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "  The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
prominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him : 
And  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  vas  poured  upon  this  good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  fraught 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to  "get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  hac 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination.and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
to  one  of  them.  April  14,  r 865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, with  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  will 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  his  co^ntry- 
mer.  being  unable  to  decide  which  U  the  greater. 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  1808, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "of  the  South, -were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  -;»ei\  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
iost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  JJruil  teri  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow- workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.  The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  boot, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  on 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pus 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs  ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thosv 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successire 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 


1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resjwnsible  posi- 
tions, he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abf. 


ANDRE  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
'reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
und  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
ivere,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
oe  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  *ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir,"' 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  i8uo,  ne 
•was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
^Presidency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
ern Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  trie  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.  In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the    United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15, 

1865,  became  President.     In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be   taught,   if 
Zhey  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  punished ;  that   the     Government  will    not 
always  beai  with  its  enemies ;  that  it   is   strong   not 
only  to  protect,  but   to    punish.     *     *     The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the   blackest   of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."     Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


op]>osition  to.  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  genera) 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  Jawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty -four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent).--, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  sth  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect- 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
'United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
[T  home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
I  Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
ne  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anitAal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rev,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, IF!.  This  was  in  the  year  1860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army:  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feet  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  tword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  cempany  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the  . 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.  On  the  i%>v>  of 


88 


"V2  YSSES'S.  "GRANT. 


June,  1861,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
fGeneral  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
(rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.-  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  port  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
Jistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  tb.«  duties  of  his  new  office 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops. '  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal. 
vation.  The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being  cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term,  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


& 


-~\  C- 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


9» 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tune ovtrraking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  1 680,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  was;  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  ai/d  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes  the  father  of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move'  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
ivas  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
iast  night. '  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terras  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
*iim,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
\vonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
'vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
,in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
Wesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in  1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  n.nd  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorn ey-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
Cession. 

^n  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent '.-,fe.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
luunbers  such  men  as  '"'hief  Justice  Salmon_PJiChasel 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman 
hood.  The  Literary  QUD  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulne;s  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judgj  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas ;  but  he  declined  to  ac. 
cept  the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  ot 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Co-: net 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  a!' 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  lif..  His  lank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  uo 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  791)1  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevet'ed 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distinguished  ttrvices 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  frcjn 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army ;  but  he  finally  declared,  ':  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  1  y 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governorof  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  popular  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-eieoted  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

in  1876  he  was  the  standard  beuier  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  n 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  i;: 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  tn  h!s  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  or- : 


• 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


IB 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1831,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)   Garfield,   both  of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
|  poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
,  .:c  about  20  x  30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.'./sen  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
.iard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
The  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
:heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
"ames.  In  May,  1823,  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
. /acted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
iliis  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
riiomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
i'fll  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self-sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
itis  live  in  Solon,  O.,near  their  birthplace. 

•The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
mem.  Ho  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  uid  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
in  lie"-  ^t^nles  to  keep  the  little  fanily  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  Strug- 
gling  childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor 
the  humblest  friend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi 
was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
Afier  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  wen'; 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  rum- 
ors of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  stated,  he  early 
united  wilh  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at  • 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  cf  him  in  reference  to  his  religion: 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called '  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
Urian  charity  for  all  'who  loveour  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  n,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1 85  6, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose-' 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  Ustory  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Ge?  Garfield  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  year* 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshui, 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  which 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  which 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argu. 
ment  on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Elaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  farther 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elheron,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
woiid  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  fou:  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 
twenty-first    Presi^m   of  the 
United   States    was    born    in 
Franklin  Courty,  Vermont,  on 
thefifthofOc'ober,  1830,  and  is 
the  oldest   of  a   family    of  two 
sons  and    five   daughters.     His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 
Arthur,  a  Baptist  cJ'^rgyman,  who 
emigrated  to  tb'.s  country  from 
the  county  Antnm,   Ireland,   in 
his  i8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 
Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 
long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S<  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
F|  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  catered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
I  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success^ 
ful  career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  ruwrrVd  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly 'before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nomination  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon. 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  hi  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


too 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge- Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1878,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  fading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finallv  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
>vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
tvfarch  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A.  few  mouths  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — thost.  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr, 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  hi» 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field  from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as    nevei 
before  in   its   history  over  the  death  of    any  othei 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.     Then  it  became   the  duty  o/ 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilities  ol 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in    New  York. 
Sept.  20,  1881.     The  position  was  an    embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were,  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.    The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he    j 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on    j 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  his  ow,. 
hands;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  o-f   I 
affair.--    he  happily  surprised  the   nation,  acting  s., 
wisely     hat   but   few   cridcisea    Vis   administration.    ; 
He  served    the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885.  and  was    3 
a  popular  candidate  before  his   party  for  a  second    ; 
term.     His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con-  ( 
vent  ion   at   Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been   selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his   party 
for  another  campaign.     He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


•   . 
' 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  ].,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con 
trast  with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Graver  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way."  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown,  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  thia 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in  Fayetteyille  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
infLience.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $too  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in. 
definite  length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


104 


S.   GROfER  CLXVRLAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  tradition*!  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
th^re  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him ;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
tsk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?"  he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply.  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
ih«  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  ?  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 
any." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  Ihem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Gro'ver's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
nave  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
(uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  piT.ishment  upon  two 
criminals.  In  1881  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.     In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which   were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.     As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  fiom  one  vetoing  an  iniqui. 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:    "This  is  a  time  fox    i 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.     I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."    The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve-  * 
land's  administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there-    j 
upon  recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire    i 
State.     To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in   1882,    i 
and  his   administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was   j 
generally  satisfactory.    The   mistakes   he   made,  if  I 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United    .• 
States.     For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July    j 
n,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F.  I 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a  I 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.     President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as  I 
the  Chief  Executive  of  ihe  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of   , 
March,  1885. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy 
between  those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continu-  j 
ance  of  silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed, 
Mr.  Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before 
his  inauguration. 

On  June  2,  1886,  President  Cleveland  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  his  deceased  friend  and 
partner,  Oscar  Folsom,  of  the  Buffalo  Bar.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  daugh- 
ter, Ruth.  In  the  campaign  of  1888,  President 
Cleveland  was  renominated  by  his  party,  but  the  • 
Republican  candidate,  Gen.  Benjamin  Harrison, 
was  victorious.  In  the  nominations  of  1892  these 
two  candidates  for  the  highest  position  in  the  gift 
of  the  people  were  again  pitted  against  each  other 
and  President  Cleveland  was  victorious  by  an 
overwhelming  majority. 


4fe^/ 

/? 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


ENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 

twenty-third  President,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  the  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  tc  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  1660.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
rcin  Harrison,  of  Virginia,  great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
•y&s  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  1774-5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
w*  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia, 
Gen  William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suo. 
cessful  career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with-a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  Darcer  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  :;f!er  las  inruguration. 
President  Harrison  VK  born  PJ  ^oci  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  TO,  1883,  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  tha 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoa 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en> 
ter  upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  received  the 
only  inheritance  of  his  life ;  his  aunt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  n 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  'afce 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an *  be- 
gin the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  witn  hi» 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world-  Ha 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON^ 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applying  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession. He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
'  gan  his  experience  as  a  stump  speake;  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1862  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
»:omplitnentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
lie  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  01  1864 
he  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  term.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
iever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
incidents  of  the  war, 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  re-election  as 
reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  In  1876 
be  was  a  candidate  for  Governor,  Although  de- 
feated, the  brilliant  campaign  he  ii,ade  won  Tor  him 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
peciaLy  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usual,  he  took  an  active  part  In  the  campaign, 
»nd  wa,f,  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Here 
uc  sevved  six  years,  and  ras  known  as  one  o>.  the 
tblest  men,  best  lawyer'  ».nd  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  an;; 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  h:c 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
coii'inonly  early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the   country.     He  was   an   uncompromising  ant: 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  tlie 
most  eminent   Democratic   speakers  of   his  StaU; 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  de,  :red  i, 
be  pitted  with  him  again.     With  all  his  eloquence 
as  nu  orator  he  never  spoke  for  oratorical  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
lie  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  spier 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.     Gifted  wit',, 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he   is  one  of   the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.     Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.     Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already  become  aphorisms.     Origt 
nal  in  thought,  precise  ia  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  bnJlan   orator  c    t.K  isy 


45)- 


-n 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


in 


HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "  Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was'instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.  In  company  with  John  G.  Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown.  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  1818  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was  honored  by  the  naming  of  a 


II* 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  Slate,  even 
before  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called, 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  fatmus  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  '.824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  1818  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor ;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and  de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State  * 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the  ' 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
lo  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution ; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole,  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made> 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  l-ectowment  of  his  ; 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  \Vm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershom 
Jayne.  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  HI'S  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  hair  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  ri,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


]£t>war&  Coles. 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
6,  was  bom  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs, 'fazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  found  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.  He  read  every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveho!ding  portion  of  the  Union  he  woulc 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the  Emperor  (Alex- 


n6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  described  in  his  own  language  : 

"  The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  whicli 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe..  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  the  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Gales,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsvihe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  ques  ion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  whi<:h  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "shiveree"  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution ;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people, 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  rev2aled 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  aian- 
ner.  It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  cami  to  this  country  with  Wm.  Penn  in  1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  hin 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


GO  VERNOMS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


"9 


INI  AN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1830,  was  a  sou 
•  of  Benjamin  Edwards,  and 
was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
'^  1775.  His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his  mind  strength,  firmness  and 
honorable  principles,  and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character  to  which  he  afterwards 
attained.  His  parents  were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
principles.  His  education  in  early 
youth  was  in  company  with  and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized( 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.  An  intimacy  was  thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.  He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.  He  next  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before  completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
bounty,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm  for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Here  he  fell  in  the  company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
Ipendthrift.  He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
'.ounty  before  he  was  21  years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
l;cte'l  l>y  an  ;ilmost  unanimous  vole. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  In  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developing  into  considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


NINIAM  EDWARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  1810  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  .years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
.•eriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
uersuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
oisgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
.he  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
.his  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
;,ctor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a.  victory 
for  his  party  in  1824. 

In  1826  7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soire  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  lands 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  havi 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  fo  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  w:\s  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  whom,  especially,  is  welt' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely. 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c< 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia  from  180910  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  h 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwaids 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


GO  VERNGRS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


12? 


REYNOLDS, Governor  1831- 
4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
his  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
oosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.  In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal. 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  2oth  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himself 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  discipline.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1812  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social  intercourse. 


124 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
mdicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recommended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He-called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coining  up  at  this  time, 
t  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
«nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
.834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
'  e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  Slate  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
Jays  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
•iiove  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
ill  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
ihould  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  place 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "  My  Own  Times  "  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord' ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu 
larly  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  i86r,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


•  ' 


Wl 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


127 


ILLIAM  LEE  D.  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Moneys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
Uiii,  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  hands 
v/ere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
:!: .  tlu  present  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
•obbed,  by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
(  olonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
n»  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
«/hen  i  yas  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  ai.d  nis  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
rcconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
subordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  search  of  the  enemy.  On  the  igth  of 
uly,  early  in  the  morning,  five  baggage  wagons. 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets ;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  toward  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and.  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


128 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  E IV ING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  in  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewmg  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  ''General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
ihe  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Charles  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing, by  virt.ie  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Go.ernor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  ryth  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  171)1  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor ;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
^as  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  zgth  of  December,  1835,601.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  UV.ited  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  afterwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes,  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped  ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie ;  but  on 
tlie  1 2th.  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewing 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Auditor  on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  of 
originality.  He  died  March  25,  1846. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•  iji  • 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
a,  acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
lie  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
\s  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  State.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
but  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
fill!  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
iiis  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated. 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  penonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
August,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


I32 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
j;ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
r gainst  the  course  cf  the  President.  The  measures 
'.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
mainly  to  Larks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan'  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal impiovement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
-upted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
Jiese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  cr:^  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public ; 
tut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
Handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
ror  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabasli, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  nil 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia. 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
.ributed  to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve 
ments  were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
:laced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  i  .ian  half  enough !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
paddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,  even  counting  all  the  possible  benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
,n  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
ly in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
ierni  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  Abolitionist," 
editing  llic  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  sluruj  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  ths 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  twd  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  of  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
memlter  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wife 
but  no  children.  'I1  wo  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


tHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
judgment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  1812  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sc-ri,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
re*'ion,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill  the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  with  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times  "  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg 
islature  were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Governor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  CariL- 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573;  Ander- 
son, 30,335  ;  Edwards,  29,629 ;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7i?v 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)  in  his  mes- 


1 36 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cn'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
io  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
trough  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  ivarranto  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scales,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Cov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  not  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that  they  should  have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  daring  io 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  tlu 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved, 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  No- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  iS.'.g 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•"« 


IHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers ;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi bluffs.  Here  young  Ford  received  his  first  I 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend. 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.  Through  the  advice  of 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ing school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
he  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
;an  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  oower  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
*ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
he  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
r.dir.inistration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
iinancial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
ihe  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
ihe  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the  notorious  "  internal  improvement "  schemes  of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  tc 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
theirleader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc.] 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con. 
temporaries  who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


Ht+&+&&*ll^^ 


Augustus  C*  French. 

" 

m&H^^ 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846  to  1852,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  ot  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction from  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
sruch  mainly  as  a  common  school  afforded.  For  a 
Srief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  lift- 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  Tohn  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scales. 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly,— an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  tumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal. 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Win.  McMurtry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election ;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152  votws. 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  terra  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation ;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  time,  the  distribution  of  Government 
-and  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1849  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  1851.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  pasbed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urged 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  there  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project ;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad^ — we  might  say  internal  improvement— his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St 
Glair  Co.,  111. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


>47 


Matteson. 


DEL  A.  MATTESON,  Governor 
1 85  3-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1808, 
in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  slornv  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
ihree  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.  His  family  was  boarded  12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  during  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  r842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apportionment,  j'c^n  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


148 


JOEL  A.  MATTE  SON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Fincrce,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross,  of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "  Anti- Nebraska  "  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats,  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson 's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,079  to  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3.000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in   the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


«: 


ILLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
April  25,  1811,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
«  ho  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
:mew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local  notoriety.  It  soon  came  lo  be  under- 


f 


stood  that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


WILLIAM  If.  BISSELL, 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  hiro  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  up 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  .politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light, 
implicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.  (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned,  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  exposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
1 860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  hi; 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  of 
which  he  h:u»  been  a  member  since  1854. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'55 


-S- 


§-:OHN  WOOD,  Governor  i86o-i,and 
the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  lai.guages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
fanning.  In  1821  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and, .pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  liver  a  small  cabin, 


1 8  x  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  » 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male  residents  and  half 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Sinoe  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  1860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  1860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nacion  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  he  was  appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  i37th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-font  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneef  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughterof  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
.1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C.,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


; 


- 


ilCHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  1818,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  lather 
moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  andt 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din  being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
he  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
vrdor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider "  campaign  for 
Garrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
;^ry  that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
.  orth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
tne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
\--\ar  man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
ueaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position, 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  wa? 
clected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  for 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  cf 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172^96  votes,  and  Mr,  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
he  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
:;->vereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "  happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Constitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  sine  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !"  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  t  lie  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  271)1  of  Noveml  LT  following. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'63 


Michard  J.  Ogles 
I 


-s— 


UCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Crui  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
(in  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  KMorailo.  <lriving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


pany of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
Asia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  1860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo ;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gallantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,   May   25,   when   Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois.of  Sanga- 
mon,   and    John   M.    Palmer,  of  Macoupin.     Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,    was   nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.      On   the  Democratic   State  ticket  were 
James  C.   Robinson,  of  ('lark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.     The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature   and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  _This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week'. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were   the   election   of  ex-Gov.    Yates   to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  131)1 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.      This   session    also    signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  parl 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.     Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature.    But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,   granted    in     1859  for  25   years,   and  now 
sought  to  be  extended   99  years.     As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it   useless  further  to 
attempt   to   check  their  headlong  career.     At   this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless   we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867   was  still   more   productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.     Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proposed,  and  some  passed.     The  contests  over  the 
.Creation  of  the   Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the 


Southern  Penitentiary,  and  the  canal  enlargement 
and  Illinois  River  improvement,  dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  i( 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35,334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  join'; 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  strikir.g  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  well 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovia. 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  witli  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphasis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iC>7 


JOHN 


:OHN  Me  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Eagle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
eaily  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
1 8  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During    the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglass,  then  making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, Sred  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  law,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  IP 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  lu 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slaverj 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  thi 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.  A  few  weeks  afterward. 


1 68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
ne  put  in  nomination  for  4Jie  jUntted  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  1860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
ne  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
^4th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  ;>osition  ', 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a. 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  i4lh 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of -his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
persistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1 869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  fjr 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  r^ilroed  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution  "  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187  r,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  lit;  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament  He 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  hi- 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manner- 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principle- 
of  statesmanship. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


171 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor  1873-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "Asso- 
ciate Church,"  a  seceding  Presbyterian  body  of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  rgth 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm; 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  n_>t  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40  in  money  started  South  to  seek  his  fortune 


172 


JOHN  L.  Bh  VKRTDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia' May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

In  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  scon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
iaw,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner,  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  n,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system. 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  I7th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  1870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 1871,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large,  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge's  administration  were: 
The  completion,  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever-  ' 
idge  &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1    Dearborn   Street    (McCormick    Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been  ' 
Assistant   United   States   Treasurer-    office   in   the 
Government  Building.     His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- ) 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


GOVERNORS  OF  TLLINOIS. 


'75 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,!!.  the  sixth  child 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,111 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
capital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 
'873- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 

to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 

'•pportunity  during  the   winter.     Within   this   time, 

owever,  he  spent  several  months  teachin"  sr.hool. 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  the  neighbors.  With  the  money  ob- 
tained by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County: 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopelesa  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  Anti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
ties. On  'the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.  Practicing 


,76 


SHELB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  1860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1 86 1,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  parly 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.  He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteied  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  Jhe  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  John  T.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4, ro3!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
olaced  in  nomination  Lewis  Steward,  a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  forthe  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again- 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  1881.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lo  n  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lisutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
Slides  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

A.S  a  practitioner  oflaw  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
field; and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
ii!,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
trto  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method  - 
isl  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'7V 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun  County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth ;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
2 1  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  payii.g  for  the  land  and 
a  conifori^1'1^  home.  John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  of  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to''  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  1860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  ths  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  OH  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  ne 
attended  an  academy  at  Henry,  Marshall  County 


i8o 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  i4ist  III. 
Vol  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  loo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  Mr.  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  lie 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  1871.  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Win.  G,  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesley  an  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part  i:  on  the  stump  " 
in  the  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  nnd  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect  John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  C3 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary, which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President  pro  tern. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  wabash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  ,1  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clairand  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "Dick"  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


18.1 


OSEPH  WILSON  FIFER.  This 
distinguished  gentleman  was 
elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
November  6,  1888.  He  was 
popularly  known  during  the 
campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Re- 
bellion, in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
born,  though  of  German  de- 
scent. His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Henry  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Fifer  had  nine  children,  of  whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally,  with  so  large  a  family,  it  was 
all  the  father  could  do  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door,  to  say  nothing  of  giving  his  children  any- 
thing like  good  educational  advantages. 

Joseph  attended  school  for  a  while  in  Virgiua, 
but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  when  his  father 
removed  to  the  West,  in  IK/iT,  Joseph  had  not  ad- 
vanced Hindi  further  than  the  "First  Reader." 
Our  snlijcct  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  in  the  loss  of  his  mother.  After  the 


death  of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  Missouri, 
the  family  returned  to  Virgina,  but  remained  only 
a  short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County 
and  started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his 
brothers  were  put  to  work.  The  elder  Mr.  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  life 
as  an  agriculturist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm-work, 
and  brick-laying,  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimpse 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new  farm 
and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived,  were 
to  hold  him. 

The  opportunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  young  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  his  brother  George, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Thirty-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  he  being  then  twenty  years  old.  In  a 
few  days,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler, 
and  then  over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigor- 
ous service  there.  After  a  second  time  helping  to 
chase  Price  out  of  Missouri,  the  Thirty-third  Regi- 


184 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


ment  went  down  to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  for  several 
weeks  "Private  Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous 
ditch.  The  regiment  then  joined  the  forces  oper- 
ating against  Port  Gibson  and  Vickshurg.  Joe 
was  on  guard  duty  in  the  front  ditches  when  the 
flag  of  surrender  was  run  up  on  the  4th  of  July, 
and  stuck  the  bayonet  of  his  gun  into  the  embank- 
ment and  went  into  the  city  with  the  vanguard  of 
Union  soldiers. 

The  next  day,  July  5,  the  Thirty-third  joined 
the  force  after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening 
Grant's  rear;  and  finally  an  assault  was  made  on  him 
at  Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  "Private  Joe"  fell, 
terribly  wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun,  when 
a  minie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirely 
through  his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally 
wounded.  His  brother,  George,  who  had  been 
made  a  Lieutenant,  proved  to  be  the  means  of  sav- 
ing his  life.  The  Surgeon  told  him  that  unless  he 
had  ice  his  brother  could  not  live.  It  was  fifty  miles 
to  the  nearest  point  where  ice  could  be  obtained, 
and  the  roads  were  rough.  A  comrade,  a  McLean 
County  man,  who  had  been  wounded,  offered  to 
make  the  trip.  An  ambulance  was  secured  and 
the  brother  soldier  started  on  the  journey.  He  re- 
turned with  the  ice,  but  the  trip,  owing  to  the 
roughness  of  the  road,  was  very  hard  on  him.  Af- 
ter a  few  months'  careful  nursing,  Mr.  Fifer  was  able 
to  come  home.  The  Thirty-third  came  home  on  a 
furlough,  and  when  the  boys  were  ready  to  return 
to  the  tented  field,  young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go 
with  them,  for  he  was  determined  to  finish  his 
term  of  three  years.  lie  was  mustered  out  in  Oct- 
ober, 1864,  having  been  in  the  service  three  years 
and  two  months. 

"Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall,  tan- 
ned, and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finished  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  young  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.  For  the  following 
four  years  he  struggled  with  his  books.  lie  en- 


tered Wesleyan  University  January  1,  1865.  He 
was  not  a  brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the 
head  nor  at  Hie  foot  of  his  class.  lie  was  in  great 
earnest,  however,  studied  hard  and  came  forth  with 
a  well-stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated,  he  entered 
an  office  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He 
had  previously  read  law  a  little,  and  as  he  continued 
to  work  hard,  with  the  spur  of  i>overty  and  prompt- 
ings of  ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to 
hang  out  his  professional  shingle  in  1869.  Being 
trustworthy,  he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  in- 
fluential friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  of  Bloom  iugton.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney  of  McLean  County.  This 
office  he  held  eight  years,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  He  served  for  four  years.  His 
ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work  made 
him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Fifer 
is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  1  le  has  a  swarthy  com- 
plexion, keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  pos- 
sesses a  frank  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  natur- 
lly  makes  friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the 
late  gubernatorial  campaign  his  visits  throughout 
the  State  proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact 
is  a  source  of  great  popularity,  especially  during  a 
political  battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  lan- 
guage is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  man- 
ner forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he 
says,  as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his 
eloquent  and  forceful  language,  make  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May,  1888,  Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its 
candidate  for  Governor,  lie  proved  a  popular 
nominee,  and  the  name  of  "Private  Joe"  became 
familiar  to  everyone  throughout  the  State.  He 
waged  a  vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  good 
majority,  and  in  due  time  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  Chief  Executive  of  Illinois. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


!87 


Mlfeeld, 


TOHN  P.  ALTGELD,  the  present 
Governor  of  Illinois, is  a  native 
of  Prussia,born  in  1848.  Shortly 
after  his  birth  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  on 
a  farm  near  Mansfield,  Ohio. 
When  but  a  mere  lad,  young 
Altgeld  had  to  walk  from  the 
farm  to  Mansfield  with  butter, 
eggs  and  garden  produce,  which 
he  peddled  from  house  to  house. 
About  1856,  his  parents  moved 
to  the  city  of  Mansfield,  and  for 
a  time  our  subject  was  engaged 
morning  and  evening  in  driv- 
ing cattle  to  and  from  the  pas- 
ture, a  distance  of  eight  miles.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  hired  out  as  a  farm  hand,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  avocation  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
tourth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  On  being  mustered  in,  the  regiment  was 
sent  to  Washington  and  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  various  campaigns  in  and  around  that  city 
until  the  surrender  of  Lee.  In  the  fall  of  1864, 
young  Altgeld  was  taken  sick,  while  with  his  regi- 
ment in  the  front,  and  the  surgeon  desired  to  send 
him  to  a  hospital  in  Washington;  but  he  asked  to 


be  allowed  to  remain  with  the  regiment,  and  soon 
recovering  from  his  sickness  was  actively  engaged 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1865.  The 
succeeding  summer  he  worked  with  his  father  on 
a  farm,  during  which  time  he  became  connected 
with  the  Sunday-school  and  was  given  charge  of 
the  Bible  class.  Before  entering  the  army  he  had 
but  very  limited  educational  advantages,  having 
attended  school  but  a  part  of  two  summers  and 
one  winter.  He  had  at  home,  however,  studied 
the  German  language  and  had  become  familiar 
with  some  German  authors.  Determining  to  fit 
himself  for  a  useful  life,  he  resolved  to  attend  a 
select  school  at  Lexington,  Ohio,  and  in  a  little 
eight-by-ten  room,  meagrely  furnished,  he  kept 
"bachelor's  hall,"  and  in  time  was  so  far  advanced 
that  he  secured  a  certificate  as  teacher,  and  for 
two  years  was  engaged  in  that  profession.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  left  home  and  traveled  exten- 
sively over  the  country,  working  at  odd  jobs,  un- 
til he  finally  reached  Savannah,  Mo.,  where  he  en- 
tered a  law  office,  and  in  1870  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar.  In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  ran  as  Prosecuting 
Attorney  for  Andrews  County,  Mo.,  and  was  de- 
feated by  four  votes.  He  ran  again  in  1874  and 
was  elected.  But  life  in  the  small  town  of  Savan- 
nah was  a  little  too  monotonous  for  him,  and  he 
determined  to  locate  in  Chicago.  In  October, 


188 


JOHN  P.  ALTGELD. 


1875,  he  resigned  the  office  of  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney, moved  to  Chicago,  and  at  once  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  For  some  years  after  he  had 
but  little  to  do  with  politics,  confining  himself  to 
his  practice  and  dealing  in  real  estate.  One  year 
after  his  arrival  in  Chicago  he  found  himself  with- 
out a  dollar,  and  in  debt  some  $400.  By  a  streak  of 
good  luck,  as  it  might  be  termed,  he  won  a  case  in 
court,  from  which  he  received  a  fee  of  f  900,  and 
after  paying  his  debt  he  had  $500  left,  which  he 
invested  in  real  estate.  This  venture  proved  a 
successful  one,  and  from  that  time  on  the  profits 
of  one  transaction  were  invested  in  others,  and 
to-day  he  is  numbered  among  the  millionaire  resi- 
dents of  the  great  metropolis  of  the  West. 

In  1884,  Mr.  Altgeld  was  nominated  for  Con- 
gress, but  was  defeated  by  three  thousand  votes. 
In  1886,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  Judge  of 
the  Superior  Court  of  Cook  County.  His  services 
as  Judge  were  such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  peo- 
ple. Early  in  the  year  1892,  by  the  solicitation  of 


many  friends,  he  announced  himself  as  a  candi- 
date for  Governor.  At  the  convention  held 
April  27,  he  received  the  nomination  and  at  once 
entered  upon  an  active  canvass.  Alone,  he  traveled 
all  over  the  en  tire  State,  and  visited  and  consulted 
with  the  leading  politicians  of  every  section.  He 
made  few  public  speeches,  however,  until  near  the 
close  of  the  campaign,  but  it  was  very  evident  that 
he  was  master  of  the  situation  at  all  times.  When 
the  votes  were  counted  at  the  close  of  election 
day,  it  was  found  that  he  had  a  majority  of  the 
votes,  and  so  became  the  first  Democratic  Governor 
of  Illinois  since  1856. 

Born  in  poverty,  alone,  single-handed  and  un- 
aided, he  faced  the  world,  and  with  a  determina- 
tion to  succeed,  he  pressed  forward,  until  to-day  he 
has  a  National  reputation,  and  is  the  envied  of 
many.  The  lesson  of  his  life  is  worthy  of  careful 
study  by  the  young,  and  shows  what  can  be  done 
by  one  who  has  the  desire  in  his  heart  to  attain  a 
front  rank  among  the  noted  men  of  the  country. 


EFFINGHAM,  JASPER  AND 

'  RICHLAND  COUNTIES, 


INTRODUCTORY 


JHE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
day,  the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
jf  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion «o  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Trn  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down 'to  a  later  period,  we  find  tht 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  theii 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  •  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  thougr 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  cemt. 
tery  will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
thir.k  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  live? 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


EDWARD  AUSTIN,  farmer,  banker  and 
manufacturer,  is  one  of  the  foremost  busi- 
ness men  of  Effingham  County,  and  has 
been  a  resident  of  southeastern  Illinois  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  He  was  born  in  Hancock  County, 
111.,  August  29,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Seneca  and 
Julia  A.  (Burnett)  Austin.  His  father  was  born 
in  Orwell,  Vt.,  December  21,  1798,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  The  Austin  family  of  which  our 
subject  is  a  member  was  founded  in  America  some 
time  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  in  which 
some  of  its  members  participated.  The  family  at 
first  was  located  in  Connecticut,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Vermont,  when  that  State  was  called 
a  new  country,  just  opening  for  settlement.  Seneca 
Austin  was  a  lawyer,  editor,  minister  and  farmer. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  Vermont,  dying  when  young.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  married 
Miss  Julia  A'.  Burnett,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  G.  Bur- 
nett, a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  who  was 
for  fourteen  years  Mayor  of  Cincinnati.  Mrs. 
Austin  was  born  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  29,  1812. 
Four  children  were  bcrn  of  their  union,  of  whom 
Edward,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest. 
The  second  is  William,  who  married  Miss  Mary 
Barbee  and  now  resides  in  Emporia,  Kan.  The 
next  in  order  of  birth  is  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Stevens,  a 
widow,  now  residing  in  Effingham.  Calvin,  the 
youngest,  married  Miss  Sarah  Brooks  and  is  a  well- 
known  business  man  in  Effingham. 

Soon  after  going  to  Cincinnati,  Mr.  Austin   at- 


tended the  Lane  Theological  Seminary  of  that  city, 
and  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Soon  after  his  marriage  with  Miss  Bur- 
nett, he  removed  to  Illinois,  probably  about  1841, 
and  located  in  Hancock  County,  where  he  served 
as  pastor  of  a  church.  Not  being  satisfied  with 
his  new  home,  in  1845  he  returned  to  Cincinnati, 
which  was  his  place  of  abode  for  eight  years.  In 
1853  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Kentucky,  directly 
opposite  Cincinnati,  for  which  he  paid  $35  per 
acre.  There  he  carried  on  farming  successfully 
until  his  land,  by  its  proximitj'  to  the  metropolis, 
increased  in  value  until  it  was  worth  $1,000  per 
acre,  and,  it  being  too  valuable  for  agricultural 
purposes,  he  sold  the  same  and  returned  to  Cincin- 
nati. He  made  his  home  in  Walnut  Hill,  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Lane  Theological 
Seminary,  which  he  had  formerly  attended.  In 
1863,  with  his  family  he  returned  to  Illinois  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  what  is  known  as  North 
Muddy  Township,  Jasper  County.  In  the  spring 
of  1866,  he  removed  to  Effingham  County,  living 
with  his  son  Edward  on  a  farm  adjacent  to  Effing- 
ham, which  is  his  son's  present  homestead.  There 
he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1881, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  wife  had 
died  in  Delhi,  Ohio,  May  8,  1873,  while  there  on  a 
visit. 

Ed-ward  Austin  accompanied  his  parents  to  Cin- 
cinnati from  Illinois  when  a  child  of  three  yeai's. 
He  attended  school  in  that  city  and  spent  several 
years  on  the  farm  in  Kentucky,  later  returning 


196 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  them  to  Cincinnati.  On  the  17th  of  October, 
1861,  his  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  L.  Winter  was 
celebrated  in  Campbell  County,  Ky.  Mrs.  Austin 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  November  23,  1841,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  A.  (Digman) 
Winter.  Six  sons  and  three  daughters  have  graced 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin.  Harry  B.  mar- 
ried Miss  Nannie  Houston  and  is  carrying  oil  a 
planing-mill  at  Effingham,  which  is  his  home; 
Charles  E.,  who  is  unmarried,  assists  in  the  care  of 
his  father's  extensive  business  interests;  Cornelia 
resides  at  home;  Frank  G.,  who  married  Miss 
Emma  Smith,  resides  in  Effingham,  being  a  Director 
and  Manager  of  the  Effingham  Canning  and  Wood 
Package  Company,  of  which  see  the  sketch  else- 
where in  this  volume.  The  younger  members  of 
the  family  are  Julia,  William  W.,  Walter  G.,  Calvin 
P.  and  Gertrude. 

Mrs.  Austin,  with  several  of  her  children,  holds 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Our 
subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics  but  has  never 
been  willing  to  accept  any  public  office,  except 
that  of  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  in  which 
position  lie  has  done  much  to  advance  the  educa- 
tional interests  of  the  community  where  he  has 
made  his  home.  lie  has  also  been  a  liberal  contri- 
butor to  churches  and  religious  institutions. 

Mr.  Austin  is  an  enterprising  business  man  and 
is  identified  with  nearly  all  the  important  enter- 
prises of  the  city.  In  addition  to  his  interests  in 
the  canning  factory,  he  is  an  equal  partner  with 
Calvin  Austin  in  the  planing-mill,  and  is  a  half- 
owner  in  the  Eftingham  Electric  Light  Plant,  which 
company  will  soon  be  incorporated.  He  owns 
one-third  of  the  stock  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Efringhaiu,  of  which  he  has  been  Vice-President 
since  its  organization.  He  is  a  large  shareholder, 
and  President  of  the  Effingham  Milling  Compaq*, 
of  which  W.  II.  Dietz  is  manager.  These  mills 
have  a  daily  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  tweut}"- 
five  barrels.  Our  subject  is  a  stockholder  and 
Director  in  an  extensive  furniture  factory,  known 
as  the  Effingham  Manufacturing  Company,  which 
was  started  in  1889,  largely  through  his  influence. 

On  the  northeast  corner  of  Jefferson  and  Banker 
Streets,  Mr.  Austin  is  just  completing  a  fine  busi- 
ngs block  and  opera  hall,  which  has  a  ground 


floor  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet  front  on 
Jefferson,  and  is  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  deep 
on  Banker  Street.  The  opera  hall  is  48x95  feet. 
There  are  three  storerooms  on  the  first'  floor  and 
the  First  National  Bank  is  to  occupy  the  corner. 
The  upper  floor  is  conveniently  arranged  for  offices, 
and  the  whole  building  is  fitted  up  with  all  modern 
city  conveniences  and  the  apartments  are  all  rented 
in  advance  of  completion.  The  structure  is  sub- 
stantially and  elegantly  buift,  with  fronts  of  pressed 
brick,  the  rear  and  partition  walls  being  of  hard 
brick,  and  the  whole  may  well  be  considered  an 
ornament  to  the  city. 

While  residing  in  Jasper  County,  Mr.  Austin 
owned  and  operated  a  stock-ranch  of  eighteen 
hundred  acres,  which  he  has  since  sold,  reserving 
only  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Ho  has  a  line 
farm  of  six  hundred  acres  adjacent  to  Effingham, 
where  for  ten  or  twelve  years  he  carried  on  dairy- 
ing extensively,  and  where  he  is  still  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  in  breeding  and  raising  pure- 
blood  Jersey  cattle,  of  which  he  keeps  a  line  herd. 
In  1889  he  started  a  livery  stable  in  Effingham, 
which  is  well  stocked  and  the  leading  one  in  the 
city  and  which  he  still  owns. 

In  1890  Mr.  Austin  was  one   of  several   public- 
spirited  citizens  who  set  on  foot  a  movement  look- 
ing to  the  establishment  of  a  college  at  Effingham, 
and  was  one  of  the   most   liberal   contributors 
that  end.     The  result  is  the  model  Austin  College 
and  Normal  Institute,  now  in  successful  operation, 
of  which  see  a  sketch  elsewhere  in   this   work.     In 
recognition    of   the   liberal   contributions   of   the 
Austin  brothers,  Edward  and  Calvin,  the  institu- 
tion bears  their  family  name.     Edward  Austin  h 
been  President  of  the  College  Board  of  Truste 
since  the  inception  of  the  project,  and   has  been 
potent  factor  in  producing    the    flattering   resul 
which  is  now  the    pride   of    the   citizens   of   this 
county.     In  fact,  to  the  enterprise  and   liberality 
of  the  Austin   brothers   the    recent   rapid    growth 
and  improvement  of  the  city  must  be  largely  a 
tributed,  which  fact  is  conceded    by   all    well-in 
formed  and  fair-minded  people.     They  are  p< 
sed  of  large  means  and  are   able    and    willing   to 
make  judicious  investments  that  will    benefit  the 
community  at  large  as  well   as   themselves.     They 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


197 


are  the  acknowledged  mainstay  of  the  college, 
which  they  carried  through  the  critical  period  of 
its  existence  until  it  is  now  on  a  paying  basis. 

Mr.  Austin  has  a  large,  substantial  and  tasty 
residence,  which  lie  erected  in  1890,  and  which  is 
not  surpassed  for  elegance  of  proportion  or  rich- 
ness of  finish  by  any  residence  in  the  county,  un- 
less it  may  be  by  his  brother  Calvin's  newly-built 
mansion  in  Effingham.  Having  a  decided  taste 
for  flowers  from  childhood,  Mr.  Austin  has  erected 
a  commodious  greenhouse  adjacent  to  his  residence, 
heated  by  steam,  and  there  has  many  thousands  of 
plants  and  flowers,  from  which  he  supplies  the  citi- 
zens of  this  and  adjoining  counties  with  liberal 
and  beautiful  gifts  of  rare  flowers  and  foliage. 


ENRY  BERNHARD  WERNSING,  County 
Treasurer  of  Effingham  County,  has  been 
connected  with  that  office  for  nearly  twelve 
years  either  as  Deputy  or  Principal,  and  in 
his  official  capacity  or  otherwise  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  this  community. 
He  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Effingham 
County,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  St.  Francis 
Township,  September  6,  1864.  His  parents,  Bern- 
hard  H.  and  Mary  A.  (Vogt)  Wernsing,  were  na- 
tive-born Americans,  though  both  were  of  Ger- 
man parentage.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  II.  Wernsing,  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany, about  1 803.  He  married  Elizabeth  Huck- 
niann,  of  the  same  country,  and  with  his  family, 
consisting  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  emi- 
grated to  America.  His  children  were:  John  Henry, 
Jr.,  Frederick,  Herman,  Kate  (now  the  wife  of 
Henry  Eggerman,  of  Teutopolis)  and  Theresa,  now- 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Hartup,  of 
Teutopolis.  After  crossing  the  broad  Atlantic,  the 
grandfather  settled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  there 
the  family  circle  was  increased  by  the  birth  of  a 
son,  Burnhard  II.  In  order  to  support  his  family, 
Mr.  Wernsing  secured  employment  in  a  foundry 
as  engineer,  where  he  worked  until  1850.  He 


then  removed  to  Effingham  County,  111.,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
25th  of  February,  1876. 

His  son,  Bern  hard  H.  Wernsing,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  graduate  of  St.  Francis  College, 
of  Effingham  County,  and  became  one  of  the  early 
teachers  of  this  county.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, his  first  wife  being  Miss  Anna  Vogt,  who 
died  in  June,  1876.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Kate,  now  the  wife  of  Bernard 
Remme,  a  farmer  of  St.  Francis  Township,  Effing- 
ham County;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Ordner, 
of  Teutopolis;  Henry  B.,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch;  John,  now  a  resident  of  Louisiana;  Sophia, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Castleman,  a  merchant  of  Effingharn; 
Frank,  at  home;  and  one  child  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. For  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Wernsing  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  their  union  being  cele- 
brated in  May,  1881.  Unto  them  have  been  born 
four  children.  Mr.  AVernsing,  Sr.,  has  been  the 
County  Treasurer  of  Effingham  County  for  seven 
years.  He  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  now 
owns  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  St.  Francis  Township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. 

Henry  B.  Wernsing,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  grew  to  mature  years  upon  his  father's 
farm.  His  primary  education,  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  was  supple- 
mented by  study  in  St.  Joseph's  College,  of  Teutop- 
olis. In  the  year  1881,  he  became  Deputy  County 
Treasurer  under  his  father  and  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity until  Mr.  Wernsing,  Sr.,  retired  from  the 
office,  after  which  he  became  Deputy  to  the  in- 
coming Treasurer,  Mr.  Thoele,  and  served  as  such 
until  his  election  to  the  office  of  County  Treas- 
urer in  the  fall  of  1890.  He  entered  upon  his 
duties  on  the  first  Monday  of  December  of  that 
year,  and  is  the  present  incumbent.  lie  was  elected 
and  served  as  City  Treasurer  of  Ettingham  for  the 
year  1889. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Wernsing  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Democracy,  and  social^',  he  be- 
longs to  Venice  Lodge  No.  168,  K.  P.  His  long 
experience  in  the  County  Treasurer's  Office  has 
made  him  familiar  with  its  duties,  and  he  has 
proved  a  most  competent  and  faithful  official.  He 


198 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


well  deserves  representation  in  this  volume,  for  lie 
has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Efflngham  County,  and 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a  man  of  sterling 
worth. 


T  :>  E= 


ON.  ALBERT  CAMPBELL,  of  Effingham, 
is  the  Representative  to  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature from  the  Thirty-third  District.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  dry-goods  firm  of 
Campbell  &  Caine,  of  Effingham,  and  a  well-known 
and  prominent  resident  of  this  city.  He  claims 
Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Somerset,  Perry  County,  on  the  1st  of 
November,  1855.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Kuhns)  Campbell,  are  now  residents  of  Effing- 
h:im.  His  father  was  born  in  the  same  town  in 
which  our  subject's  birtli  occurred,  and  is  descended 
on  both  sides  from  old  Colonial  families  of  Mary- 
land. On  the  paternal  side  the  ancestors  were 
evidently  of  Scotch  origin  and  on  the  maternal 
side  of  German  lineage,  but  it  is  so  far  remote  that 
our  subject  has  no  positive  knowledge  of  the  date 
of  the  establishment  of  their  families  in  America. 
Both  his  father's  and  his  mother's  mothers  were 
native-born  Americans  and  died  several  years  ago, 
when  more  than  ninety  years  of  age.  The  mother 
of  Albert  Campbell  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
dates  the  origin  of  her  family  in  the  New  World 
back  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

In  1871,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell came  to  Efflngham  with  his  parents.  The  early 
years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Ohio.  He  had  at- 
tended school  in  his  native  State,  and  on  coming 
to  Efflngham  pursued  his  studies  in  its  public 
schools  until  1874.  In  that  year  he  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  was  employed  in  various  lines  of 
business  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years.  In  1887 
he  returned  to  Efflngham  and  soon  afterward 
formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Fortne3T  in  the  drug 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Campbell  &  Fort- 
ney,  which  connection  was  continued  for  two 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  Mr. 
Campbell  sold  out, and  forming  a  partnership  with 


Mr.  Caine,  embarked  in  his  present  line  of  busi- 
ness in  August,  1891. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1890,  in  Efflngham,  Mr. 
Campbell  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  B. 
Stevens,  a  daughter  of  James  B.  Stevens,  now  de- 
ceased. The  lady  was  born  in  Jasper  County,  111., 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  connected  with  several  civic  socie- 
ties, holding  membership  with  Efflngham  Lodge 
No.  149,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  with  Efflngham  Lodge 
No.  168,  K.  of  P.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Honor.  Asa  business  man  he  is  enter- 
prising and  progressive,  and  in  his  undertakings 
has  been  quite  successful.  Since  forming  a  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Caine,  they  have  built  up  an  ex- 
cellent trade  and  are  now  doing  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive business.  In  1892  Mr.  Campbell  was  elected 
to  represent  the  Thirty-third  Senatorial  District  in 
the  State  Legislature.  His  political  career  has  won 
him  high  commendation  from  his  constituents  and 
he  is  faithfully  discharging  the  duties  of  the  office 
which  he  now  fills. 


ICHAEL  SPRINKLE,  who  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  on  section  19,  Wat- 
son Township,  was  born  in  this  township, 
Efflngham  County,  November  26,  1848, 
and  both  his  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  were 
of  German  descent.  His  parents,  Michael  and 
Mary  (Auld)  Sprinkle,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  followed  that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire 
life.  About  1830  he  left  the  Keystone  State  and 
emigrated  Westward  to  Ohio.  He  there  made  his 
home  until  the  autumn  of  1841,  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Illinois.  The  trip  Westward 
was  made  by  team.  He  located  in  what  is  now 
Watson  Township,  Efflngham  County,  trading  his 
farm  in  Ohio  for  two  hundred  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  mostly  covered  by  timber,  on  section  30. 
Erectiaga  log  cabin,  he  there  made  his  home  for  a 
few  years,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Ewington, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


199 


where  he  purchased  a  gristmill  and  engaged  in 
milling  for  a  time.  Later  lie  traded  his  mill  in 
Ewington  for  a  tract  of  partially  improved  land  on 
section  19,  Watson  Township,  which  he  further  de- 
veloped and  cultivated  until  1856.  In  that  year 
he  went  to  Mason  and  engaged  in  carrying  on  a 
hotel  for  about  three  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  removed  to  Watson,  where  he  spent 
a  year,  and  then  returned  to  his  farm  on  section  19, 
where  lie  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1885.  In  that  year  he  again  took  up  his  residence 
in  Watson,  where  he  lived  a  retired  life  until  called 
to  the  home  beyond.  He  died  December  18,  1891, 
and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Watson  Cem- 
etery. He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for 
many  years  and  led  an  upright,  honorable  life.  In 
politics  he  was  a  stalwart  Republican,  but  never  an 
office-seeker.  From  a  business  point  of  view  his 
life  was  also  successful,  and  he  gained  a  comforta- 
ble competence.  Mrs.  Sprinkle  died  October  25, 
1882.  She  also  held  membership  with  the  Baptist 
Church.  , 

This  worthy  couple  had  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, namely:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Edward  Loy,  a  re- 
tired farmer  residing  in  the  village  of  Watson; 
James  II.,  a  farmer  residing  near  Grand  Island, 
Neb.;  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  childhood;  Jarret,  who 
died  in  1861;  John,  who  follows  farming  in  Wat- 
son Township;  William,  whose  death  occurred  in 
1839;  Catherine,  who  died  in  1872;  Martha,  wife 
of  American  Cronk,  a  farmer  of  Watson  Township; 
Caroline,  wife  of  W.  L.  Funkhouser;  Vincent,  who 
is  living  on  the  old  homestead;  and  Michael  of  this 
sketch. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Michael 
Sprinkle,  who  is  well  known  in  this  community  as 
one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  did  not  receive 
very  excellent  educational  privileges,  but  managed 
to  acquire  a  good  knowledge  of  the  practical 
branches,  and  by  reading,  experience  and  observa- 
tion in  later  years  has  made  himself  a  well-in- 
formed man.  The  first  school  that  he  attended  was 
held  in  a  log  house.  He  was  earl}-  inured  to  the 
labors  of  farm  life  and  gave  his  father  the  benefit 
of  his  services  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  began  working  on  the  old  homestead  for 
wages.  lie  was  thus  employed  for  nine  years,  at 


the  expiration  of  which  time  he  removed  to  the 
farm  on  which  he  is  now  living,  and  which  he  has 
made  his  home  continuously  since. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1872,  Mr.  Sprinkle  was 
married  to  Miss  Laura  Ward,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Lucinda  Wardr  Six  children  graced  this 
union,  four  of  whom  are  living,  while  two  died  in 
infancy.  Those  who  yet  survive  are  Arthur  L., 
born  June  15,  1874,  and  now  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school;  Mary  L.,  born  June  11,  1876;  Willie 
J.,  born  July  23, 1880;  and  Charles  L.,  born  August 
11,  1882.  The  family  have  a  pleasant  home  and 
are  well-known  people  of  this  community., 

Socially,  Mr.  Sprinkle  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  in  politics  is  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspi- 
rant for  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  lie  carries 
on  general  farming  on  section  19.  Watson  Town- 
ship, where  he  owns  two  hundred  and  seven  acres 
of  valuable  land.  His  fields  are  well  tilled  and 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care 
and  labor.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  communit}'. 


\  OHN  A.  BROWN,  of  Newton,  is  one  of  the 
well-known  and  representative  citizens  of 
Jasper  County,  and  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
His  residence  dates  from  1855,  therefore 
covers  a  period  of  a  third  of  a  century.  During 
all  these  years  he  has  borne  his  part  in  the  up- 
building and  advancement  of  its  best  interests, 
and  won  for  himself  the  warm  regard  of  his 
fellow-townsmen. 

Mr.  Brown  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  was  born  in  Pike  County  in  1832,  and  is  a 
son  of  Thomas  and  Maria  (Badget)  Brown.  His 
father  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  in  the  Old  Domin- 
ion grew  to  manhood.  On  attaining  to  years  of 
maturity  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Badget,  and  they  began  their  domestic  life  in  the 
South.  Some  time  after  their  marriage  they  de- 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cided  to  leave  their  old  home  and  seek  a  fortune 
in  the  West,  so  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Pike 
County,  where  the  mother  died  about  a  year  later, 
at  the  birth  of  her  son  John  A.  The  father  was 
afterwards  remarried  and  with  his  family  went  to 
Jackson  County,  in  the  same  State,  where  his  sec- 
ond wife  died.  The  year  1855  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Illinois.  He  came  to  Jasper  County, 
accompanied  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
here  remained  until  after  the  breaking  out  of  the 
late  war.  He  served  for  a  time  in  the  Union  army 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  but  his  service  broke 
down  his  health  and  he  died  in  Newton  in  1868. 

Mr.  Brown,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  and 
an  elder  brother,  George  Brown,  were  the  only 
children  born  of  the  first  marriage  of  the  father. 
George  died  in  Pike  County,  Ohio,  in  early  child- 
hood. There  were  two  sons  and  two  daughters 
born  of  the  second  marriage,  but  only  one  is  now 
living,  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Jennie  Thompson,  who 
resides  in  Columbus,  Ohio. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Mr.  Brown  is  the  only 
male  representative  of  his  father's  family  now  liv- 
ing. No  event  of  importance  occurred  during 
the  days  of  his  childhood  and  youth.  He  came 
with  his  father  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  has  since 
been  a  resident  of  Jasper  County.  He  has  watched 
its  growth  and  progress  and  has  seen  the  many 
changes  which  have  occurred.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  blacksmith  ing  and  wagonmaking,  and 
began  business  on  his  arrival  here  on  the  very 
spot  where  his  shop  still  stands.  He  is  a  good 
workman  and  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  trade 
which  yields  to  him  a  good  income. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  Jackson  County, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Nancy  M.  Strain,  and  by  the  union 
of  this  worthy  couple  has  been  born  a  family  of 
three  children,  numbering  a  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters, namely:  Emma,  wife  of  C.  K.  Teets,  of 
Junction  City,  Ky.;  Mrs.  Jennie  Lathrop,  who 
lives  in  Robinson,  111.;  and  Charles,  who  is  still 
under  the  parental  roof.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown 
have  been  bereft  by  death  of  six  children,  all  of 
whom  died  in  early  childhood  with  one  exception. 
The  oldest  daughter,  Florence,  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  The 
Brown  family  is  one  well  known  in  this  commu- 


nity and  as  its    members   are    people  of   sterling 
worth  they  are  held  in  high  regard. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  identified  with  Jasper 
County  and  the  village  of  Newton  for  nearly 
forty  years,  and  has  been  a  witness  of  the  upbuild- 
ing and  progress  which  that  long  period  of  time 
has  brought  about.  By  industry  and  good  man- 
agement in  his  business  career,  he  has  acquired  a 
fine  property  and  is  now  numbered  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  Newton. 


M.  LE  CRONE,  a  member  of  the 
II  ,— —  firm  of  Le  Crone  <fe  Mechler,  editors  and 
Ss4  publishers  of  the  Effingham  Democrat,  was 
born  in  Ewington,  the  old  county  seat  of  Effingham 
County,  December  23,  1853.  He  is  a  son  ol  Dr. 
John  Le  Crone,  one  of  the  early  physicians  and 
pioneer  settlers  of  this  county.  With  his  parents  he 
removed  to  Effingham  when  seven  3'ears  of  age, 
and  there  attended  the  public  schools  until  1870, 
spending  his  summer  vacations  in  different  kinds 
of  labor  in  the  city  and  on  a  farm.  When  his 
school  life  was  ended  at  that  place  he  entered  the 
State  Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.,  in  the  fall 
of  1870, and  after  pursuing  a  three-years  course  of 
study  was  graduated  from  that  institution,  in  June, 
1873.  Soon  afterward  he  entered  upon  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching,  being  employed  in  that  capac- 
ity in  the  district  school  in  Effingham  County  for 
a  year.  In  1875  he  became  Principal  of  the  Effing- 
ham  East  Side  School,  serving  as  such  for  one  year. 
He  then  accepted  the  position  of  Deputy  Circuit 
Clerk  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Le  Crone  then  entered  the  field  of  journal- 
ism. In  January,  1878,  he  purchased  a  half-interest 
in  the  Effingham  Democrat,  and  for  three  years  was 
a  joint  editor  with  John  Honey,  Sr.,  of  that  paper 
and  continued  with  his  successor,  Owen  Scott,  until 
October  1,  1881,  when  he  sold  out,  and  for  a  time 
kept  books  for  the  firm  of  Asgood  &  Kingman. 
In  December,  1881.  in  company  witli  C.  F.  Cole- 
man,  he  established  the  Altamont  Neirs  and  con- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


tinned  its  publication  until  1885.  In  October, 
1882,  lie  formed  a  partnership  with  N.  D.  Clutter, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Clutter  &  Le  Crone,  they 
doing  a  real-estate,  loan  and  insurance  business. 
This  connection  was  continued  until  1885,  when 
they  discontinued  the  business  and  dissolved  part- 
nership. 

Mr.  Le  Crone  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss  Fran- 
ces N.  Nitcher,  of  Effingham.  He  and  his  wife 
have  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintance  in  this  commu- 
nity, where  they  have  long  made  their  home  and 
are  numbered  among  its  highly  respected  and  es- 
teemed citizens. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1884,  Mr.  Le  Crone  pur- 
chased the  Effingham  Democrat,  which  he  con- 
ducted alone  for  six  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  admitted  to  partnership  George  V. 
Mechler,  and  the  firm  of  Le  Crone  &  Mechler  was 
formed.  The  Democrat  is  a  six-column  quarto,  all 
home  print.  The  firm  built  and  completed  their 
present  office  in  August,  1892.  It  is  a  brick  and 
stone  structure,  60x20  feet,  two  stories  in  height, 
and  is  all  occupied  by  their  business.  The  office 
is  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  in  fact  it  is  one 
of  the  best  in  southern  Illinois.  It  is  lighted  by 
electricity,  heated  by  steam,  and  the  printing  is 
done  with  a  fine  Cranston  press.  During  the  past 
two  years  the  circulation  of  the  paper  has  increased 
twenty-five  per  cent.  Mr.  Le  Crone  is  a  versatile 
and  ready  writer  and  the  Democrat  is  a  bright, 
newsy  sheet,  well  deserving  of  a  liberal  patronage. 


bOUIS  ENGEL,  a  retired   farmer,  now  resid- 
ing in  Shumway,  claims   Germany  as  the 
,  land  of  his  birth.     He  was   born  in  Rhein- 
beir  August,23,  1830,  and  was  the  third  in  a  fam- 
ily of  three  sons  and  four  daughters.     The   par- 
ents, Philip  and  Mary  (Ilengstenberg)  Engel,  were 
also  born  in  the  same  country,  where  they  spent 
their  entire  lives.     The  father  was  a  farmer.     The 
mother  of    our   subject    died    when    he    was  only 
about  six  years  old,  and  he  went   to  live  with  his 


maternal  aunt,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  They  lived  upon  a 
farm. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Engel  emigrated  to  America, 
landing  at  New  Orleans  a  stranger  in  u  strange 
land,  without  money  or  friends.  After  working 
for  three  months  in  the  Crescent  City,  he  went  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  where  he  worked  by  the  month 
for  a  gardener  for  three  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  he  made  his  way  to  Illinois, 
and  in  St.  Clair  County  worked  by  the  month 
on  a  farm  for  about  five  years.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  Mr.  Engel  was  married,  in  July,  1854, 
he  wedded  Catherina  Metzler.  With  the  money 
he  had  acquired  through  his  own  industry  and 
economy  he  then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land, 
and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1863,  when  he  sold  his  property  in  St.  Clair  County 
and  came  to  Effingham  County.  Here  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  partly  improved  land 
and  began  its  further  development.  As  his  farm 
was  located  only  half  a  mile  from  Shumway,  lie 
also  bought  grain  in  this  place,  doing  considerable 
business  in  that  line.  In  1886  he  left  the  farm 
and,  removing  to  the  village,  engaged  in  the  poul- 
try business  for  three  years.  He  next  purchased 
a  lumber  yard  and,  admitting  his  son  to  partner- 
ship, devoted  his  energies  to  that  enterprise  for 
three  years.  He  then  sold  out  to  his  son  and  re- 
tired from  business. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Engel  were  born  eight 
sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  four  died  in 
childhood.  The  living  are:  Christina,  wife  of 
Herman  Lane,  a  leading  farmer  of  Summit  Town- 
ship; Mary,  wife  of  Deidrich  Brumerstadt,  a  fur- 
niture dealer  in  Shumway;  John  Louis,  who  owns 
a  lumber  yard  in  Shumway;  Adam,  a  well-known 
farmer  of  Summit  Township;  Theodore,  a  farmer 
of  Banner  Township;  Catherina,  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Kunze,  manager  of  the  creamery  at  Shum- 
way; Minnie,  at  home;  Mary  Matilda,  wife  of  Fred 
John  Struse,an  agriculturist  of  Effingham  County; 
Henry  and  Walter  W. 

Mr.  Engel  is  a  stanch   Democrat   in  politics  and 

has  served  as  Assessor  of   his  township    for    three 

years.     He   is    now    Supervisor.     His  prompt  and 

j    faithful  discharge  of    public    duty    has    won    him 


202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


high  commendation  and  gained  him  the  esteem  of 
all.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  Our  subject's  life  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful one,  and  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  he  has 
worked  his  way  steadily  upward  from  an  humble 
position  to  one  of  prominence  and  affluence.  By 
his  well-directed  efforts  he  has  gained  a  comfort- 
able competence  and  is  now  enabled  to  live  a  re- 
tired life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits 
of  his  former  toil. 


J.  L.  HAUMESSER,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Shumway,  Effingham  County,  was  born 
June  5, 1858,  in  Peru,  111.,  and  was  the  fourth  child 
in  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters  born 
unto  George  and  Hellena  (Moegling)  Haumesser. 
The  father  was  born  in  Strasburg,  Alsace,  April 
13,  1823,  and  remained  in  his  native  country 
with  his  parents  until  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  to  seek 
a  location  for  his  father.  He  spent  three  years  in 
the  United  States,  traveling  over  the  county- and 
visiting  its  principal  cities.  Sending  back  a  favor- 
able report,  his  father  was  preparing  to  emigrate 
at  once,  when  he  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree.  Sub- 
sequently George  Haumesser,  father  of  the  Doctor, 
went  back  to  his  native  land  and  was  married, 
after  which  lie  brought  his  bride  to  America. 

Mr.  Haumesser  was  a  mason  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  until  the  autumn  of  1870.  He 
first  went  to  St.  Louis,  but  after  a  short  time  re- 
moved to  La  Salle,  111.  Subsequently  he  went  to 
Peru,  where  he  resided  for  eighteen  years.  In 
1870  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Fayette  County,  111., 
hoping  to  making  farmers  of  his  boys,  and  there 
remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  4, 
1890.  The  mother  of  the  Doctor  was  born  May  9, 
1826,  near  Strasburg,  Alsace,  and  there  acquired 
her  education.  She  remained  with  her  parents 
until  her  marriage  and  then  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  husband.  She  died  in  Fayetle 


County,  111.,  July  18,  1892.  Her  father  was  a  sol- 
dier under  Napoleon  I.  for  over  thirteen  years, 
and  after  being  disabled  served  as  a  gendarme 
until  his  death. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  the 
Doctor,  who  remained  in  Peru  with  his  parents 
until  twelve  years  of  age.  attending  the  public 
schools.  He  then  went  with  his  father  to  the  farm, 
where  he  spent  the  succeeding  six  years  of  his  life, 
during  which  time  he  also  attended  school.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine. He  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  entered  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  that  city, 
from  which  he  was  graduated,  receiving  his  diplo- 
ma on  the  1st  of  March,  1881.  He  was  now  fitted 
to  enter  the  medical  profession,  and  on  the  29Ui 
of  April  of  the  same  year  opened  an  office  in 
Shumway,  where  he  has  since  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  has  built  up  a  large 
practice  and  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Haumesser 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Mary  Reis.  She  was 
born  in  Perry  County,  Mo.,  July  14,  1864,  and 
when  quite  small  came  to  this  county  with  her 
parents,  who  are  still  living  on  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Shumway.  The  marriage  of  the  Doc- 
tor and  his  wife  was  celebrated  November  20, 
1883,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  five 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters  living.  The 
first  were  twins,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The 
other,  Mary,  was  born  August  16,  1885;  Louis 
was  born  August  8,  1887;  Carrie  was  born  April 
16,  1889,  and  Martha  April  26,  1891. 

In  his  political  views,  Dr.  Haumesser  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  takes  quite  an  active  part  in  local 
politics,  in  fact  is  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  party 
in  this  county.  He  is  jiow  Coroner  of  the  county. 
He  was  first  elected  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  after 
two  years'  service  was  re-elected  by  the  Demociatic 
parly  in  the  autumn  of  1892.  He  is  also  serving 
as  School  Director  of  Banner  Township,  District 
5,  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm 
friend.  He  is  now  Secretary  of  the  Building  and 
Loan  Association,  and  was  president  of  the  same 
for  two  years.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Shum- 
way Camp  No.  1233,  M.  W.  A.,  and  himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


203 


Doctor  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  this  community,  and  has  a  wide  business  and 
social  acquaintance.  His  skill  and  ability  have  won 
him  a  large  practice,  and  he  is  considered  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
He  is  also  an  honorable,  upright  man,  whose  word 
is  as  good  as  his  bond. 


H  WORMAN,  traveling  salesman,  has 
been  a  resident  of  Effingham  County  for 
the  long  period  of  half  a  century,  or  since 
1843.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Olden- 
burg, on  the  13th  of  May,  1827.  His  parents  were 
Harmon  II.  and  Mary  Anna  (Budde)  Worman,  both 
of  whom  were  also  born  in  Germany.  Our  subject 
was  reared  and  educated  in  the  land  of  his  nativ- 
ity, where  he  remained  until  1843,  when,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  lie  came  to  America.  Coming 
at  once  to  the  West,  he  made  his  first  settlement  in 
Douglas  Township,  Effingham  County,  111.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  in  this  countiy  he  engaged  as 
merchant's  clerk  in  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  subse- 
quently was  employed  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Still 
later  he  occupied  a  similar  position  in  Efflngham, 
and  afterward  in  Vincennes,  Ind. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1854,  in  Evansville,  Ind., 
Mr.  Worman  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary  VerWayne,  who  was  born  in  Holland,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  John  VerWa3'ne.  She  died  Novem- 
ber 21,  1868,  leaving  the  following  children:  John 
A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  A.  J.,  who 
is  married  and  engaged  in  the  real-estate  and  ab- 
stract business  in  P]ffingham,  111.,  and  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Joseph  B.,  who 
married  Annie  Palm  and  resides  in  Efflngham; 
Mary  Anna,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Seitz,  who 
also  lives  in  that  place;  Frank  II.,  who  married 
Rose  Uptmore,  and  died  March  23,  1892;  and 
Mary  Clara,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
Mr.  Worman  began  business  for  himself  in  Vin- 


cennes, Ind.,  in  1853  as  a  dealer  in  general  mer- 
chandise, but  after  conducting  the  business  for 
four  years  he  was  burned  out,  in  1857,  and  lost 
heavily,  as  he  carried  no  insurance.  Though  he 
lost  all  he  had  in  the  fire,  he  started  again  on 
credit,  but  the  hard  times  of  1859  came  on  and  he 
sold  out  in  that  year  and  came  to  Efflngham.  Here 
he  secured  a  position  as  merchant's  clerk  with  Mr. 
Waschefort,  and  later  he  was  for  several  years  in 
the  implement  business.  In  1868  he  was  elected 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  of  Effing- 
ham  County,  acting  in  that  official  capacity  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  Subsequently  he  resumed  the 
implement  business,  which  he  conducted  until  the 
spring  of  1890,  when  he  sold  out  and  began  trav- 
eling on  commission  as  a  salesman  for  the  Effing- 
ham  Manufacturing  Company,  which  manufactures 
furniture. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1870,  Mr.  Worman 
married  Miss  Theresa,  daughter  of  Daniel  Nye. 
She  was  born  in  this  county,  where  her  parents, 
who  were  of  German  birth,  were  among  the  early 
settlers.  Seven  children  graced  their  union,  five 
sons  and  two  daughters:  William  B.,  Charles  A., 
Rosa  Theresa,  Mary  Magdelena,  Henry  F.  (who 
died  in  infancy),  Leo  B.  and  Edward  B. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Worman  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  principles.  Besides  the 
office  of  Clerk  of  the  Court  and  Recorder,  he  has 
served  as  Master  in  Chancery  for  two  years.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


J.  WALLICH,  the  present  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Altamont  Neivs,  claims  Penn- 
sylvania as  the  State  of  his  nativity. 
He  was  born  in  Franklin  County  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1828,  and  when  a  lad  of  eight  summers 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Richland  County, 
Ohio.  This  was  in  1836.  The  family  located  upon 
a  farm  in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads  our  subject  spent  his  youth. 


204 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


During  the  winter  season  he  attended  the  common 
schools,  where  he  acquired  his  education,  and  in 
the  summer  months  lie  aided  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm.  After  eleven  years  spent  in  Ohio,  the  fam- 
ily again  made  a  journey  Westward.  On  the  27th 
of  June,  1847,  they  started  for  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated in  Knoxville,  where  our  subject  pursued  a 
full  course  of  study  under  the  direction  of  Prof. 

1.  S.  Lemmon.     The  city  of  Galesburg  was   not 
then  incorporated,  and   in  that  city   was  located 
the  first  school  of  note  in  Knox  County. 

In  February,  1851,  Mr.  Wallich  went  to  Morgan 
County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  teaching  school  until 
the  following  September.  In  the  meantime,  on 
the  4th  of  May,  1851,  he  married  Miss  Christiana 
Long,  and  in  September  removed  to  Knoxville, 
where  lie  engaged  in  carpenter  work.  In  a  few 
years  he  had  gained  an  excellent  reputation  in  his 
business  and  had  become  a  prominent  contractor,  of- 
ten employing  as  many  as  twenty-five  workmen,  but 
unfortunately  he  was  overcome  with  the  heat  in 
the  summer  of  1867,  and  this  so  prostrated  him  that 
he  was  unable  to  work  for  some  time.  After  two 
years  of  intense  suffering,  he  and  his  wife  removed 
to  Arenzville,  Cass  County,  111.,  and  he  engaged 
in  teaching  school  in  June,  1869.  After  a  few 
years  he  opened  a  small  furniture  store,  and  in 
1874  embarked  in  newspaper  work.  Ten  years 
later  he  established  the  Arenzville  Advance,  the 
first  paper  established  in  that  place.  It  was  a  suc- 
cessful enterprise,  but  he  later  contracted  for  the 
Altamont  News,  of  which  he  took  charge  August 

2,  1885.     The  patronage  was  then  very  small,  and 
the  advertisers  could  be  counted  on  the  fingers  of 
one  hand.     The  town  numbered  six  hundred  and 
fifty    inhabitants,   and    did    a    business  of   about 
$50,000  per  year.     Owing  to   the   business  ability 
and  enterprise  of  Mr.  Wallich,  the  News  has  now  a 
good   circulation  and  is  crowded  with  advertise- 
ments.    The  village  has   a    poplation   of   sixteen 
hundred  and   fifty,  and  its   business  amounts    to 
$1,500,000  annually.     It  is  the  only  place  of  its 
size   in   the  Slate  where  the  inhabitants  have  no 
village  taxes  to  pay,  and  at  this  date,  May  5,  1893, 
it  has  no  outstanding  debts  and  has  $3,500  in  the 
treasury. 

Mr.  Wallich  has  held  a  number  of  public  offices 


of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  elected  Sunday-school 
Superintendent  when  he  was  only  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  has  filled  that  position  for  almost  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  formerly  belonged  to 
several  secret  societies,  but  now  holds  membership 
with  only  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 
At  this  writing,  Mr.  Wallich  is  sixty-five  years  of 
age,  and  bis  health  is  now  better  than  it  was  at 
any  time  between  the  years  1867  and  1886.  He 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  valuable  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Altamont,  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  his  fellow-townsmen.  He  uses  the  News 
for  the  benefit  of  the  community,  and  under  his 
guidance  that  paper  has  played  an  important  part 
in  bringing  to  a  successful  issue  many  important 
questions  and  interests  which  have  been  up  before 
the  people. 


r 


I,  DELBERT  A.  GRAVENHORST,  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  Etfingharn  Volksblalt, 
li)  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Hanover,  now 
a  province  of  Prussia,  on  the  8th  of 
March,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  Theodore  and  Sophia 
(Oehlker)  Gravenhorst,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Hanover.  His  father  was  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
and  died  in  his  native  land  February  17,  1893,  in 
the  eighty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  The  mother  is 
also  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
gymnasium  of  Lunenburg,  Hanover.  Between  the 
ages  of  fourteen  and  nineteen  years  he  was  a 
student  of  agriculture  in  his  native  country.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  his  old  home,  bade 
good-bye  to  his  friends  and  family  and  emigrated 
to  America.  He  located  near  Chicago,  where  he 
spent  the  two  succeeding  years  of  his  life.  In  1860 
he  removed  to  Teutopolis,  Effingham  County,  III., 
but  remained  in  that  place  only  six  mojths,  after 
which  he  embarked  in  farming.  For  some  time  he 
followed  that  pursuit,  being  thus  employed  until 
the  autumn  of  1864,  when,  in  Kendall ville,  Ind.,  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


205 


enlisted  for  the  late  war  as  a  member  of  Compan}' 
F,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  Indiana  In- 
fantry. He  served  until  July,  1865,  when  lie 
was  honorably  discharged,  the  war  having  ended. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  a  number  of  minor  engagements. 

On  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Gravenhorst 
resumed  farming  operations,  which  he  continued 
until  1867.  That  year  witnessed  his  removal  to 
Effingham,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In 
that  city,  on  the  3d  of  January,  1871,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Barbara  Blattner,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Blattner.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  this  State,  her  birth  having  occurred  in  High- 
land June  5,  1855.  Her  parents  were  of  Swiss 
birth.  Her  mother  is  now  living,  but  her  father  is 
deceased.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gravenhorst  has 
been  born  a  family  of  five  children,  four  sons  and 
a  daughter,  and  they  also  lost  two  in  infancy.  Of 
those  living  Theodore  S.  is  the  eldest.  He  is  now 
engaged  as  a  merchant  clerk.  The  other  children 
are  John,  Charles,  Ida  and  Albert,  all  of  whom  are 
attending  school. 

In  1878,  Mr.  Gravenhorst  established  The  Volks- 
blatt,  which  for  the  first  four  years  was  printed  in 
Chicago,  but  in  1872  he  completed  his  office  outfit 
here,  since  which  time  his  paper  has  been  printed 
in  Kftingham.  Improvements  in  the  office,  both 
for  newspaper  and  job  work,  have  been  made,  until 
at  tins  writing  the  office  is  complete  in  its  appoint- 
ments and  the  paper  is  enjoying  a  prosperous  and 
successful  career.  The  Volksblalt  is  the  only  Ger- 
man paper  published  in  this  section  of  the  State. 
It  is  a  six-column  quarto,  Democratic  in  politics, 
and  has  a  circulation  of  between  eight  and  nine 
hundred.  Mr.  Gravenhorst  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democracy  and  has  served  two  terms  as  a  member 
of  the  City  Council  of  Effingham.  At  this  writing 
he  is  numbered  among  its  Aldermen.  For  three 
years  he  has  been  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department, 
and  is  President  of  the  Washington  Loan  and 
Building  Association,  which  position  he  has  held 
since  the  organization  of  the  company.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  this  company.  He  also 
aided  in  establishing  the  Effingham  Manufacturing 
Company  and  has  since  been  a  member  of  its  Board 
of  Directors.  He  is  a  heavy  stockholder  in,  and 


President  of, the  Wildi-Eddy  Lumber  Company,  of 
Eftingham,  of  which  R.  Wildi  is  Superintendent. 
Mr.  Gravenhorst  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  suc- 
cessful business  man,  energetic  and  progressive, 
and  has  aided  materially  in  the  upbuilding  and 
improvement  of  the  city  in  which  he  makes  his 
home. 


EV.  LOUIS  J.  SCHWARTZ,  the  pastor 
of  the  Immanuel  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  of  Altamont,  is  a  native  of  Chicago. 
|  His  early  life  was  passed  in  that  city  and 
he  attended  its  public  and  parochial  schools  until 
about  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered 
Concordia  College,  where  he  pursued  a  six-years 
course  of  study.  It  was  in  1879  that  he  entered 
Concordia  Seminary, of  St. Louis, Mo.  In  that  insti- 
tution he  pursued  a  three-years  course  in  theol- 
ogy, completing  his  studies  in  1882.  On  the  3d  of 
July  of  that  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schwartz,  was  or- 
dained. His  first  charge  was  in  Mt.  Carroll,  111., 
where  he  remained  until  he  assumed  the  duties  of 
his  present  pastorate,  which  was  in  1887. 

While  residing  in  Mt.  Carroll,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Schwartz  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna 
Umbach,  of  St.  Louis.  The  union  of  this  worthy 
couple  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  a  son, 
Theodore.  The  parents  are  numbered  among  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Altamont,  where  their 
upright  lives  add  greatlj'  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
husband's  teachings. 

The  church  of  which  Mr.  Schwartz  is  now  pas- 
tor was  organized  on  the  7th  of  February,  1874, 
by  the  Rev.  G.  Wangerin,  who  was  at  that  time 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Bethlehem,  Effingham 
County.  The  society  at  Altamont  was  organized 
with  only  a  few  families,  and  services  were  held 
in  the  schoolhouse  every  alternate  Sabbath  until 
1879,  when  the  first  resident  pastor  was  placed  in 
charge.  This  was  the  Rev.  John  George  Goess- 
wein,  who  remained  until  1885.  In  the  meantime 


206 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  church  building  was  erected,  and  dedicated  on 
the  22d  of  June,  1884.  The  next  pastor  was  the 
Rev.  G.  J.  Wegener,  who  remained  in  charge  until 
1887,when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Schwartz,  who  has  since  been  pastor.  The  church 
building  is  a  commodious  and  substantial  struc- 
ture which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  Its 
seating  capacity  is  about  six  hundred.  The  pres- 
ent membership  consists  of  fifty-five  families,  all 
but  eleven  of  whom  are  residents  of  the  village 
of  Altamont.  A  parochial  school  is  also  sustained 
and  has  an  average  attendance  of  about  sixty 
pupils.  This  school  is  under  the  immediate  charge 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schwartz,  and  in  consequence  adds 
much  to  his  labors,  for  he  devotes  much  of  his 
time  to  the  instruction  of  the  pupils.  His  church 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  is  doing  a  good 
work. 


-f 


lARTLETT  Y.  WATKINS  is  successfully 
engaged  in  farming  on  section  18,  Olney 
Township,  Richland  County.  His  farm  is 
pleasantly  located  about  four  and  one-half 
miles  southwest  of  the  city  of  Olney  and  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  four  acres  of  rich  land, 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. The  good  buildings,  the  well-tilled  fields 
and  neat  appearance  of  the  place  prove  the  owner 
to  be  a  man  of  practical  and  progressive  ideas. 
We  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will 
prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 

A  native  of  North  Carolina,  Mr.  Watkins  was 
born  on  the  20th  of  July,  1842,  and  is  the  third  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  whose 
parents  were  James  G.  and  Mary  (Patterson)  Wat- 
kins.  Of  the  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  three 
are  now  deceased.  Those  still  living  are  Bartlett, 
who  is  the  eldest  surviving  child;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Elias  Ridgely,  a  farmer  of  Indiana;  La 
Fayette,  who  makes  his  home  in  Olney;  James  M., 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  this  State;  Margaret, 
who  married  G.  E.  Jones,  a  resident  of  Christian 
County,  111.;  William  A.,  an  agriculturist  of  this 


State;   and   Eben,  who  also   makes   his   home    in 
Christian  County. 

The  father  of  this  family  was  of  Scotch  and 
English  extraction.  He,  too,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  born  March  30,  1817.  Upon  a  farm  he 
was  reared  to  manhood  and  after  his  marriage 
emigrated  in  1838  to  Tennessee,  where  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1852.  At  that  time  he  came  to 
Richland  County,  111.,  and  purchased  a  farm,  on 
which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His 
death  occurred  November  7,  1872,  and  he  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  December  27,  1816,  in  North  Carolina 
and  was  of  German  and  Irish  extraction,  died  in 
Decatur, Macoii  County,on  the  28th  of  May,  1884. 

Mr.  Watkins  whose  name  heads  this  record  was 
a  lad  of  only  ten  summers  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  count}'.  Upon  the  home  farm  he 
remained  and  in  the  summer  months  aided  in  the 
labors  of  the  field,  while  in  the  winter  season  he 
attended  the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
acquiring  a  good  English  education.  When  about 
nineteen  years  of  age,  however,  he  left  the  paren- 
tal roof  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country. 
Prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  he  enlisted  No- 
vember 27,  1861,  and  was  assigned  to  Company 
E,  Thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  in  which  he  served 
for  about  one  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  received  his  discharge  on  account  of 
physical  disability. 

Returning  to  the  North,  Mr.  Watkins  remained 
at  home  until  he  had  arrived  at  mature  years,when 
he  rented  land  and  began  farming  in  his  own  in- 
terest. On  the  22d  of  November,  1863,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Lawless, 
a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born  February  27, 
1843.  He  brought  his  bride  to  his  new  home  and 
now  for  thirty  years  they  have  traveled  life's  jour- 
ney together.  Twelve  children  came  to  bless  their 
union,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  but  four  have 
been  called  to  the  home  beyond.  Commodore,  the 
eldest,  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Richland  County; 
William  F.  follows  the  same  pursuit  in  Clay 
Count}'.  The  younger  members  of  the  family  who 
are  still  under  the  parental  roof  are  Edward,  Jen- 
nie, Oliver,  Otis  A.,  and  Laura  and  Lora  (twins). 

In   his  political  belief  Mr.  Watkins  is  a  Demo- 


^m^i^L/^ 

-//y 

r^JL^d^!^^^1-^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


209 


crat,  having  supported  that  party  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  straightforward  and  honorable  in  all 
his  business  dealings,  and  the  sentiment  of  the 
Golden  Rule  has  ever  been  a  controlling  influence 
in  his  life.  lie  and  his  family  are  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  in  this  community.  The  Watkins' 
household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  its  mem- 
bers rank  high  in  the  circles  of  society  in  which 
they  move. 


,  EV.  HERMAN  GESENHUES  is  the  present 
pastor  of  St.  Clare's  Catholic  Church  of 
Altamont,  111.  For  a  number  of  years  the 
!  religious  services  of  this  congregation  were 
conducted  at  this  place  by  the  Franciscan  Fathers, 
among  whom  were  Rev.  Michael  Richardt,  Rev. 
Herman  Wirtz,  Rev.  Clement  Deynaann  and  Rev. 
Florence  Kurzer,  from  Teutopolis;  Rev.  Father 
Francis  Albers,  Rev.  Father  Jerome  Hellhake,  Rev. 
Placidus  Krekeler  and  Rev.  Maurus  Brink,  followed 
by  Rev.  Stephen  Scholz.  The  first  secular  priest 
was  Rev.  John  Gratza,  who  was  succeeded  soon  af- 
ter by  Rev.  William  Michael.  The  next  to  have 
charge  of  the  church  was  Rev.  P.  A.  Lyons,  who 
in  turn  was  followed  by  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Herman  Gesenhues.  The  time  of  the  latter's  com- 
ing was  on  the  10th  of  July,  1891. 

The  congregation  now  numbers  forty-seven 
families,  thirty-three  of  whom  reside  within  the 
village  limits  of  Altamont.  The  church  building 
is  .1  comportable  and  commodious  edifice.  The 
congregation  is  entirely  free  from  debt,  and  under 
the  present  pastorate  a  number  of  general  im- 
provements have  been  made  upon  the  church 
property.  In  fact,  the  Catholic  Church  interests 
in  Altamont  may  be  said  to  be  in  a  growing  and 
prosperous  condition.  The  present  trustees,  be- 
sides the  pastor,  are  Charles  Wittmeyer  and  Val- 
entine Shab. 

Rev.  Herman  Gesenhues  is  a  native  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  having  been  born  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1858,  in  that  city.  After  he  had  acquired  his  pri- 

9 


mary  education  he  became  a  student  in  Teutopolis, 
and  was  there  graduated  in  literature  and  in  the 
classics.  He  was  graduated  in  philosophy  and 
theology  in  St.  Francis'  Seminary,  near  Milwaukee, 
Wis.,  and  was  ordained  a  priest  by  Bishop  Baltes, 
in  Alton,  111.,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1881,  Fa- 
ther Gesenhues'  first  pastoral  charge  was  in  Be- 
thalto,  Madison  County,  111.,  and  at  the  same  time 
he  celebrated  mass  at  two  missions,  Gillespie  and 
Raymond.  On  the  4th  of  April,  1884,  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  parish  at  Hillsboro,  Montgomery 
County,  and  on  October  4,  1888,  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  church  in  Bloomfield,  near  Quincy, 
and  of  the  congregations  of  Columbus  and  Men- 
don,  Adams  County,  111.  As  already  stated,  he 
came  to  Altamont  in  Juty.  1891.  Father  Gesen- 
hues has  done  much  to  promote  the  best  interests 
of  his  church,  both  in  Altamont,  Shumway  and 
St.  Elmo,  where  he  has  been  called  upon  to  labor. 


>ILLIAM  L.  JOURDAN,  who  resides  on 
section  8,  Wade  Township,  Jasper  County, 
owns  and  operates  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  substantial  and  leading  agriculturists  of 
the  community.  As  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known,  we  feel  assured  that  this  sketch  of  his  life 
will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  No 
other  home  has  he  known  than  Jasper  County, 
for  he  was  born  in  Wade  Township,  February  28, 
1839.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Col.  Jourdan, 
was  born  of  Scotch-Irish  parentage.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  the  Old  Country,  and  later  became 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Indiana.  He  received 
his  commission  as  Colonel  during  his  service  in  the 
War  of  1812. 

James  Jourdan,  his  son  and  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  reared  near  Vincennes,  Ind., 
and  there  married  Melinda  Scott,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  a  daughter  of  William  Scott.  Determin- 
ing to  try  his  fortune  in  Illinois,  he  became  the 
first  real  settler  who  made  a  permanent  location  in 


210 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Jasper  County.  His  first  home  was  made  in  what 
is  now  Fox  Township,  at  Bow  Station.  Later 
he  settled  near  Newton, and  resided  there  for  some 
time.  He  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  on  the 
old  homestead,  which  is  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Joseph  Jourdan,  and  his  death  there  occurred 
in  1844,  when  our  subject  was  a  mere  lad.  The 
mother  then  reared  her  family.  She  survived  her 
husband  until  May,  1876,  when  she  was  called  to 
her  final  rest,  and  her  remains  were  interred  by 
his  side  in  the  Vanderhoof  Cemetery,  where  a 
marble  slab  marks  their  last  resting-place.  In 
the  Jourdan  family  there  were  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and  four  of  the  number  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Horace  Root;  Kate,  wife  of  Sam 
Miller;  Joseph  and  William. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  with  his 
mother  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
and  aided  her  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  His  edu- 
cational privileges  were  very  moderate,  being  those 
afforded  by  the  common  schools.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  late  war  he  manifested  his  loyalty  to 
the  Union  cause  by  enlisting  on  the  5th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1861,  as  a  member  of  Company  K,  Thirty- 
eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  When  his  term  had  ex- 
pired he  veteranized,  and  continued  in  the  service 
until  the  spring  of  1866.  He  participated  in  all  the 
engagements  of  his  regiment,  including  the  battles 
of  Corinth  and  Stone  River,  whence  he  went  to 
Chattanooga,  and  during  all  the  way  the  troops 
were  under  fire.  He  then  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Chattanooga,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chickamauga, 
Franklin  and  Nashville.  He  received  a  wound  at 
Stone  River.  After  the  surrender  of  Lee,  the  Thir- 
t3r-eighth  Regiment  was  sent  to  Texas,  where  it  did 
duty  until  the  spring  of  1866.  AVith  his  comrades, 
Mr.  Jourdan  was  then  mustered  out  at  Springfield, 
and  returned  to  his  home. 

On  again  reaching  Jasper  County  our  subject 
resumed  farming  in  Wade  Township,  where  he 
owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Af- 
ter operating  that  place  for  several  years,  in  1883 
he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides 
and  which  has  since  been  his  home.  The  tract  was 
formerly  known  as  the  Big  Marsh,  for  much  of  it 
was  under  water  and  thought  to  be  unfit  for  cul- 


tivation. Mr.  Jourdan  has  drained  and  developed 
it,  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  the 
county.  He  has  a  comfortable  residence,  many 
modern  improvements,  and  is  numbered  among 
the  thrifty  and  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  Wade 
Township. 

While  home  on  a  furlough  during  the  late  war, 
Mr.  Jourdan  was  married,  May  26,  1862,  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  Banta,  a  native  of  Johnson  County,  Ind. 
She  came  to  Illinois  when  a  maiden  of  eleven 
summers,  with  her  father,  Henry  Banta,  who  set- 
tled in  Wade  Township.  Eight  children  bless  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jourdan.  Alva  T.  and 
Charles  M.  are  both  married,  and  operate  portions 
of  the  home  farm.  The  younger  members  of  the 
family  are  Ephraim  S.,  Harvey,  Winnie,  Elbert, 
William  II.  and  Ulysses  G.  They  also  lost  three 
children,  Axie,  George  T.  and  Rennie,  who  died 
at  the  ages  of  thirteen,  two  and  one  years  respec- 
tively. 

Mr.  Jourdan  is  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  voted  for  each  of  its  Presiden- 
tial nominees  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  in  1860.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge,  A.  O. 
U.  W.  Mr.  Jourdan  is  well  known  in  Newton, 
and  in  Jasper  County.  He  is  a  man  of  strict  integ- 
rity, true  to  every  duty  of  citizenship  and  to 
every  private  trust,  and  among  the  honored  pio- 
neers he  well  deserves  mention. 


EV.  ALFRED  BLISS,  a  well-known  pioneer 
Methodist  minister  of  southern  Illinois, 
now  superannuated  and  a  resident  of  Eff- 
ingham,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Fairlee. 
Orange  County,  Yt.,  May  29,  1811,  and  is  a  son  of 
Solomon  and  Jerusha  (Strong)  Bliss.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and  settled  in  Ver- 
mont in  their  youth.  They  were  Congregational- 
ists,  and  the  father  for  upwards  of  forty  years  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


211 


Deacon  of  his  church.  Our  subject  received  an 
academic  education  and  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1834,  Mr.  Bliss  and  Miss 
Direxia  II.  Knowles  were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs. 
Bliss  was  born  in  Northfield,  N.  H.,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Haynes)  Knowles,  of 
that  place.  Both  were  descended  from  old  New 
England  families. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Bliss  left  Vermont  with  his  family, 
in  company  with  his  wife's  parents  and  their  fam- 
ily, for  Illinois.  They  traveled  all  the  way  by 
teams,  over  new  and  poorly-improved  roads,  and 
reached  their  destination  after  eight  weeks  on  the 
way.  They  purchased  land  in  what  is  now  Fill- 
more,  Montgomery  County,  111.,  and  in  that  neigh- 
borhood Mr.  Bliss  engaged  in  farming  for  fifteen 
years.  They  were  poor  and  had  much  to  contend 
with  in  the  natural  disadvantages  of  living  in  a 
new  country,  but  they  soon  had  a  comfortable 
home  and  became  well  off  on  account  of  their  in- 
dustry and  frugality. 

About  the  year  1820,  in  his  early  childhood, 
Mr.  Bliss  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  became  a  member  at  the 
age  of  eighteen.  They  were  both  devout  Chris- 
tians from  their  youth  up  and  were  active  in 
church  and  Sunday-school  work  prior  to  leaving 
the  East.  Mr.  Bliss  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school  of  his  church  in  Bradford,  Vt.,  for 
several  years.  On  coming  to  Montgomery  County, 
111.,  they  found  themselves  in  a  wilderness,  without 
schools  or  churches  and  with  few  Christian  neigh- 
bors. As  the  country  began  to  settle  they  succeeded 
in  organizing  a  church  and  Sunday-school.  After 
a  residence  at  Fillmore  of  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Bliss 
was  licensed  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Confer- 
ence as  an"  itinerant  minister  and  entered  upon  his 
sacred  duties  about  1853. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bliss  had  six  children  who  lived 
to  maturity  and  married.  Two  died  in  infancy. 
Eliza  Ann,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  James  S. 
Moody,  of  Fillmore,  and  has  eight  children.  Ce- 
lesta J.,  wife  of  E.  C.  Devore,  died  in  February, 
1890,  leaving  two  children.  George  married  Mag- 
gie Russell  and  resides  in  Nokomis,  Montgomery 
Count}-,  111.  Alice,  wife  of  Lyman  Allen,  died  in 


June,  1880,  leaving  three  children.  Charles  W. 
married  Elizabeth  Phillips  and  is  a  resident  of 
Hillsboro,  Montgomery  County.  Nellie  J.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  is  the  widow  of  John  C. 
White,  whose  sketch  appears  in  another  portion  of 
this  volume,  and  makes  her  home  in  Effingbam. 
She  has  three  living  children.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Austin  College,  to  which 
institution  she  has  been  a  liberal  contributor. 

Mr.  Bliss  organized  the  first  Sunday-school  in 
Montgomery  County  and  after  entering  the  min- 
istry was  engaged  in  active  work  in  that  and  ad- 
joining counties,  holding  meetings  wherever  he 
could  gel  a  few  together,  supplying  pulpits,  mar- 
rying, and  burying  the  dead,  rejoicing  with  the 
happy  and  comforting  those  in  sorrow  and  dis- 
tress. During  the  late  Civil  War  there  was  much 
sympathy  among  his  neighbors  for  those  in  rebell- 
ion; many  were  Southern-born  and  had  friends 
and  relatives  in  the  Southern  army.  The  nearness 
of  Fillmore  to  the  Missouri  border  made  it  a  favor- 
ite resort  of  the  guerrilla  raiders.  Mr.  Bliss  had 
always  been  a  strong  anti-slaverj'  man,  and  being 
a  Methodist  preacher  was  suspected  of  being  con- 
nected with  the  so-called  "underground  railroad," 
by  which  fugitive  slaves  were  being  conducted 
Northward  to  Canada.  Consequently  he  had 
many  enemies  in  the  secession  element,  who  were 
only  too  glad  to  point  him  out  to  the  guerrillas  as 
one  deserving  of  death.  It  happened  that  during 
the  war  he  owned  and  operated  a  grist  and  saw 
mill  not  far  from  his  home  and  it  was  while  there 
with  his  sons  attending  to  the  grinding  of  some 
grain  that  the  first  demonstration  was  made  against 
him.  Three  strange  men  came  in,  claiming  to  have 
grist  that  had  been  neglected  or  not  ground  in 
their  turn  and  sought  a  quarrel  with  Mr.  Bliss. 
They  were  armed,  while  he  was  not,  but  he  took 
matters  coolly  and  tried  to  reason  with  them.  The 
men  went  so  far  as  to  admit  that  they  came  to  kill 
him,  when  a  neighbor,  a  friend,  put  in  an  appear- 
ance and  the  gang  concluded  to  postpone  their 
work.  The  neighbor  informed  Mr.  Bliss  that  he 
had  happened  to  overhear  the  plot  and  came  down 
to  warn  him.  At  another  time  a  man  very  much 
resembling  him  was  riding  on  a  road  which  Mr. 
Bliss  much  frequented,  was  surrounded  by  four 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


guerrillas  and  mafic  to  dismount.  He  was  marched 
into  the  woods,  away  from  the  highway,  where 
they  gave  him  to  understand  that  he  was  to  be 
killed.  They  called  him  Bliss  and  the  man  seeing 
the  mistake  naturally  took  advantage  of  it  and 
succeeded  in  convincing  the  would-be  murderers 
that  they  had  the  wrong  man.  No  doubt  had  the}' 
really  seized  the  man  for  whom  they  were  look- 
ing they  would  have  ended  his  days  then  and  there. 
On  another  occasion,  while  driving  with  a  niece  in 
a  covered  carriage,  he  met  four  armed  men  who 
seemed  disposed  to  stop  him,  but  as  he  drew  a  re- 
volver and  acted  on  the  defensive  they  hesitated 
and  lie  drove  on.  These  are  but  a  few  instances 
where  his  life  was  threatened  and  his  man}'  friends 
wondered  how  he  managed  to  escape. 

For  nearly  forty  years  Mr.  Bliss  was  actively 
employed  in  the  ministry,  and  in  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation took  a  prominent  part.  lie  was  especially 
interested  in  providing  collegiate  advantages  for 
young  women.  He  built  a  female  college  at  Sa- 
lem, 111.,  which  was  in  successful  operation  for 
several  years,  there  being  as  many  as  two  hundred 
students  in  attendance.  When  the  management 
of  McKendrce  College  opened  the  doors  to  female 
students  they  absorbed  the  Salem  school,  which 
was  afterwards  abandoned.  In  1881,  Mr.  Bliss, 
having  been  placed  on  the  superannuated  list, 
removed  to  Effingham,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  has  continued  to  work,  however,  and 
has  been  instrumental  in  building  up  thriving 
church  societies  in  many  places  where  there  was 
but  little  encouragement.  He  organized  a  society 
and  built  a  church  at  old  deserted  Ewington,  the 
former  county  seat  of  Effingham  County,  another 
at  Sigel,  one  at  Montrose  and  another  at  Union, 
which  are  now  thriving  and  prosperous  churches. 

In  starting  what  is  now  Austin  College,  Mr. 
Bliss  was  one  of  the  original  movers  and  was  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  fund,  giving  $2,500  to- 
ward building  the  college.  He  was  chosen  the 
first  President  of  the  institution.  He  has  always 
given  liberally  to  the  building  of  churches,  many 
of  which  were  outside  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
denomination,  and  other  worthy  charitable  objects 
have  met  with  his  sympathy  and  support. 

In  early  life  our  subject  was  politically  a  Demo- 


crat but  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organi- 
zation. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  County 
Commissioners  Court  and  was  re-elected,  serving 
for  two  terms  in  that  office.  He  continued  to  vote 
for  the  Republican  nominees  until  18'JO,  when- 
having  been  a  temperance  man  all  his  life,  lie 
joined  the  Prohibition  party.  He  possesses  a  farm 
of  eleven  hundred  acres  in  Montgomery  County, 
which  he  leases  and  which  he  acquired  by  years  of 
industry  and  economy.  Both  he  and  his  good 
wife  have  passed  their  eighty-first  year  and  are  in 
the  full  possession  of  their  faculties  and  likely  to 
live  for  many  years  in  the  enjoyment  of  life. 
They  celebrated  the  fifty-ninth  anniversary  of 
their  wedding  day  on  March  4,  1893.  Their  lives 
have  been  useful  and  contented  and  in  their  old 
age  they  are  esteemed  and  respected  by  a  wide  cir- 
cle of  friends. 


!->*<! 


OSEPH  DONALDSON  is  a  retired  farmer 
and  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Mason.  He  is 
numbered  among  Effingham  County's  lead- 
v  ing  citizens  and  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume.  A  native  of  Petersburg, 
Boone  County,  Ky.,  he  was  born  July  19,  1831, 
and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Baxter) 
Donaldson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  father  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  the 
mother  of  German  lineage.  Joseph  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  under  the  parental  roof  and  in  his 
youth  attended  the  public  schools  of  Petersburg, 
where  he  acquired  a  good  English  education. 
On  the  25th  of  April,  1854,  he  left  Carrollton, 
Ky.,  and  went  to  New  York,  expecting  to  go  to 
California  by  boat,  but  found  that  all  the  accom- 
modations were  taken,  and  together  with  about 
eight  hundred  others,  he  was  disappointed  in  se- 
curing passage. 

In  company  with  six  other  young  men,  Mr.  Don- 
aldson determined  to  go  overland,  and,  after  mak- 
ing preparations  for  the  journey,  they  started 
forthwith.  On  reaching  Salt  Lake  City  one  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


213 


the  party  secured  a  clerkship  at  that  place,  but 
the  others  continued  on  their  way  and  reached 
their  destination  on  the  10th  of  September.  Our 
subject  spent  five  years  in  California,  and  thence 
went  to  British  America,  where  he  remained  nine 
months.  Returning  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  route, 
he  arrived  home  in  January,  1861.  During  his 
absence  at  Vancouver's  Island  Mr.  Donaldson  saw 
Gen.  Scott  for  the  first  time.  A  dispute  had  arisen 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States  con- 
cerning the  boundary  line,  and  the  General,  know- 
ing the  exact  position  of  the  boundary  line,  was 
there  to  decide  the  matter.  The  next  time  our 
subject  saw  Gen.  Scott  the  latter  was  at  Carroll- 
ton,  Ky.,  on  a  mail  boat,  and  it  was  while  he  was 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

As  before  stated,  our  subject  returned  home  in 
1861,  and  on  the  30th  of  August  of  that  year  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Menish)  Bowling,  who  were  natives  of 
Virginia.  They  had  three  children,  but  Andrew 
J.,  their  eldest  child  and  only  son,  died  in  infanc}'. 
Catherine  became  the  wife  of  William  Weston,  a 
blacksmith  of  Stewardson,  111.,  and  died  March  6, 
1881.  Jennie  became  the  wife  of  Bird  Sisson,  of 
Mason,  and  they  had  two  children,  Karl  Eugene 
and  Joseph  A.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  Mrs.  Sisson  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  February  13,  1889. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Donaldson  bade 
good-bye  to  his  bride  and  entered  the  service  of 
his  country  as  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  Com- 
pany C,  Eleventh  Indiana  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  three  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  returned  home  and  aided  in  organizing  a 
company,  which  enlisted  for  a  year,  but  was  dis- 
charged after  six  months,  for  the  war  t«en  ended. 
This  company  became  Company  C,  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Indiana  Regiment.  During 
botli  terms  of  service  Mr.  Donaldson  was  under 
Col.  Marsh  B.  Taylor,  and  was  in  the  First  Brig- 
ade and  First  Division  of  Hancock's  Corps.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Harper's  Ferry, 
Winchester,  Halltown,  and  many  other  important 
engagements.  lie  was  always  found  at  his  post 
of  duty,  and  was  a  faithful  and  gallant  defender 
of  the  Union. 


When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Donaldson  re- 
turned to  Carrollton,  Ky.,  where  he  remained 
until  1868,  when  he  removed  toEffingham  County, 
111.  The  next  six  years  of  his  life  were  spent  on 
a  farm  in  Union  Township.  He  had  previously 
come  here  in  1862,  but  made  no  permanent  loca- 
tion. His  farm,  which  contained  eighty  acres,  he 
sold  in  1874,  and  removed  to  the  village  of 
Mason,  where  he  engaged  in  coopering,  which 
business  he  followed  until  the  improved  machin- 
ery made  hand  work  unnecessary.  Abandoning 
that  pursuit,  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Donaldson  held  the  office  of  City  Marshal 
and  Street  Commissioner  for  several  years,  and  is 
HOW  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  public  duties  have 
ever  been  discharged  with  a  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity that  have  won  him  the  commendation  of  all 
concerned.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  so- 
cially is  a  member  of  Mason  Lodge  No.  217, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Mason  Chapter  No.  76,  R.  A.  M. 
Himself  and  wife  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star,  and 
they  are  also  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Donaldson  likewise  holds  membership  with 
Ransom  Post  No.  99,  G.  A.  R.  The  Squire  is  one 
of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Mason,  and  is  now 
resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  competence  which 
has  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts.  He 
has  lived  a  quiet,  unassuming  life,  yet  he  has  won 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact.  He  was  true  to  his 
country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  and  is  alike  true  to 
every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


LOYIES  CHARLES  KESSLER,  who  isen- 

gaged  in  farming  on  section  9,  Wade 
Ij  li>  Township,  Jasper  County,  has  spent  his 

entire  life  in  this  locality,  in  fact  is  a  rep- 
resentative of  one  of  the  early  families  of  the  com- 
munity. He  was  born  on  the  farm  which  is  still 
his  home  on  the  18th  of  June,  1851,  and  it  has 
since  been  his  place  of  residence.  His  father, 
Nicholas  Kessler,  was  a  native  of  German}',  and 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


there  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
When  a  young  man  he  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  America,  and  crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the 
New  World.  He  settled  in  Jasper  County, 111.,  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  from  the  Government  and 
began  the  development  of  a  farm,  upon  which  our 
subject  now  resides.  He  was  here  married  to  Miss 
Kate  Weiskope,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to 
America  when  a  young  lady.  Mr.  Kessler  first  en- 
tered a  tract  of  eighty  acres  from  the  Government 
and  soon  transformed  the  wild  and  unbroken  prai- 
rie into  a  rich  and  well-cultivated  farm.  He  met 
with  excellent  success  in  his  business,  and  as  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  his  landed 
possessions  from  time  to  time,  until  at  his  death 
he  was  the  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the 
county.  He  was  also  one  of  the  largest  land-own- 
ers in  Wade  Township,  his  possessions  aggregating 
some  nine  hundred  acres.  He  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  in  this  localitj',  and  was  called  to  his 
final  home  in  March,  1874.  His  wife  passed  away 
several  years  previous,  dying  when  our  subject  was 
a  lad  of  about  twelve  years. 

A.  C.  Kessler  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, numbering  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
who  grew  to  mature  years.  He  and  his  brother 
John  and  one  sister,  however,  are  now  the  only 
surviving  members  of  the  family.  No  event  of 
special  importance  occurred  during  the  boyhood 
of  our  subject.  He  was  reared  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads,  aiding  in  the  labors  of  the  farm 
during  the  summer  months,  and  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood  during  the  win- 
ter season.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he  suc- 
ceeded to  the  old  homestead,  which  he  has  since 
owned  and  operated. 

In  Clay  County,  111.,  on  the  19th  of  September, 
1876,  Mr.  Kessler  married  Mary  Hemrich,  who  was 
born  in  Richland  County,  111.,  but  spent  her  girl- 
hood days  in  Clay  County.  Her  parents,  Bona- 
parte and  Wilhemina  Hemrich,  were  both  natives 
of  Germany.  Five  children  grace  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kessler:  Rosa,  Henry,  Gertie,  C'elia 
and  Dora.  The  family  circle  yet  remains  unbrok- 
en, and  the  three  eldest  children  are  attending 
school. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kessler  are  members  of  St.  Marie's 


Catholic  Church,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  he 
is  a  Democrat.  His  entire  life  has  been  spent  in 
Jasper  County,  and  he  is  well  and  favorably 
known  to  its  citizens.  His  career  has  been  an 
honorable  and  upright  one,  and  therefore  he  has 
the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  business  or  pleas- 
ure has  brought  him  in  contact.  His  farm  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 


;ILLIE  CHITTENDEN  MARTIN,  the  sen- 
ior member  of  the  well-known  mercantile 
firm  of  T.  J.  Martin's  Sons,  of  Newton, 
was  born  in  this  city  November  25,  1856,  and  is 
the  eldest  surviving  son  of  T.  J.  and  Mary  E. 
(Chittenden)  Martin.  His  education  was  obtained 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  in  the  Evansville  Business 
College,  of  Evansville,  Ind.  During  vacations  he 
made  himself  useful  in  his  father's  store,  and  so 
laid  the  foundation  for  a  practical  mercantile  ed- 
ucation that  has  served  a  good  purpose  since  he 
has  been  in  business  for  himself.  On  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  1886,  he  and  his  brother  E.  T.  suc- 
ceeded to  the  mercantile  business  established  by 
their  father  long  prior  to  their  births.  They  have 
since  carried  on  the  store  with  marked  success. 
They  deal  in  dry  goods,  groceries  and  provisions, 
carry  an  excellent  line  of  goods  and  have  a  fine 
trade,  which  yields  to  them  a  good  income. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1889,  Mr.  Martin  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Newton  with  Miss  Myrtle 
Spoon,  who  is  a  native  of  Hudsonville,  111.,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Iredell  and  Elizabeth  Spoon. 
Two  children  grace  this  union,  both  daughters: 
Eudora  and  Maud.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  are  people 
of  sterling  worth,  whose  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter have  won  them  the  warm  regard  of  their 
largo  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

In  politics,  Mr.   Martin  votes  with  the  Democ- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


215 


racy.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge 
No.  161, 1. 0.  O.  F.  He  is  also  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity,  holding  member- 
ship with  Martin  Lodge,  which  was  so  nameil  in 
honor  of  his  father  some  years  after  his  death,  al- 
though he  was  never  a  member  of  that  order.  Our 
subject  is  likewise  connected  with  Camp  No.  479, 
M.  W.  A. 

In  addition  to  their  mercantile  business.  Mr. 
Martin  and  his  brother  have  established  a  can- 
ning factory  at  Newton,  which  is  fast  growing 
into  prominence  through  the  superior  quality  of 
the  goods  which  they  prepare  and  sell.  Under  the 
name  of  the  Ambraw  Canning  Company  they 
carry  on  a  successful  business,  which  is  elsewhere 
spoken  of  in  this  work. 

The  sons  of  eminent  and  prominent  men  in  the 
community  always  labor  at  some  disadvantage  by 
comparison  with  the  father,  but  the  sons  of  T.  J. 
Martin,  having  been  in  business  now  for  several 
years,  have  demonstrated  their  ability  to  success- 
fully conduct  important' business  enterprises  and 
have  already  won  for  themselves  a  good  name,  in- 
dependent of  the  prestige  of  their  father's  mem- 
ory. 


R.  JOHN  LE  CRONE,  the  present  efficient 
and  popular  County  Clerk  of  Effingham 
County,  111.,  is  one  of  the  few  surviving 
pioneer  settlers  who  can  boast  nearly  a 
half-century's  residence  within  its  borders.  He  has 
also  been  one  of  its  useful  and  valued  citizens. 
The  Doctor  was  born  in  the  town  of  McClelland, 
Fayette  County,  Pa.,  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1816,  and  is  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Sprinkle)  Le  Crone.  The  father  was  also  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  26th  of  March,  1791,  and  was 
descended  from  an  old  Pennsylvanian  family 
that  dated  its  origin  in  that  State  long  prior  to 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  the  original  emigrant 
settler  having  come  to  America  from  Strasburg, 


on  the  Franco-German  border.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pa.,  and 
was  descended  from  an  old  Kentucky  family.  The 
Doctor's  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, of  whom  six  are  now  living,  all  being  resi- 
dents of  Effiugham  County.  Our  subject  is  the 
eldest.  He  was  followed  by  Henry,  who  resides  in 
Watson,  this  county;  William,  who  makes  his  home 
in  the  same  county;  Mathia*,  who  is  living  in 
Jackson  Township,  Effingham  County;  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Ashbaugh  and  Mrs.  Mary  Parks. 

While  a  youth,  Dr.  Le  Crone  remembers  to  have 
seen  Gen.  La  Fayette  while  on  his  last  visit  to 
America,  riding  in  a  carriage  in  Uniontown,  Pa., 
in  company  with  Gen.  Jackson.  This  was  in  1834. 
The  Doctor's  parents  removed  with  their  children 
to  Perry  County,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  ten  years 
later,  in  1842,  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Effing- 
ham County.  Daniel  Le  Crone  entered  a  tract  of 
land  near  where  now  stands  the  village  of  Watson, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  July  8,  1845.  His  wife  died  January  10, 
1848.  For  more  than  half  a  century  the  family 
has  been  connected  with  the  history  of  this  county, 
where  the  living  children  still  reside. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio  when  a  youth  of  sixteen  summers. 
He  had  attended  the  public  schools  in  his  native 
State,  and  on  going  to  the  Buckeye  State  pursued 
his  studies  in  the  same  class  of  schools  until  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  At  that  time  he  entered  Mari- 
etta College,  where  he  remained  two  years  as  a 
student,  teaching  at  intervals  to  defray  his  ex- 
penses. At  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  gave 
up  trying  to  complete  the  course  and  engaged  in 
teaching,  also  devoting  some  time  to  the  study  of 
medicine.  Under  the  preceptorship  of  Drs.  Hyde 
and  Evans,  of  Rushville,  Ohio,  he  pursued  his 
medical  studies,  and  at  this  time,  although  not  yet 
twenty-one  years  of  age.  nor  far  enough  advanced 
to  regularly  engage  in  medical  practice,  he  had  the 
temerity  to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  the  head 
of  a  family,  and  on  the  8th  of  September,  1836, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  PUizabeth  Allen, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Allen.  Mrs.  Le  Crone  was 
born  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia.  Her 


216 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


people  were  of  an  old  and  honored  family  of  the 
Old  Dominion,  whence  they  removed  to  Ohio 
about  the  year  1829. 

The  Doctor  pursued  the  practice  of  medicine  in 
the  Buckeye  State  until  1844,  when  he  determined 
to  come  to  Illinois,  whither  his  parents  had  already 
removed.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Efflngham 
County,  settling  at  Ewington,  then  the  county 
seat.  There  he  succeeded  in  building  up  an  exten- 
sive and  lucrative  practice  and  in  acquiring  a  val- 
uable property  at  that  place.  In  1860  the  county 
seat  was  removed  from  Ewington  to  Efflngham, 
and  in  consequence  the  property  in  the  former 
place  depreciated  in  value  so  much  that  it  became 
almost  worthless.  Dr.  Le  Crone  removed  to  this 
city  and,  as  the  natural  result,  had  to  begin  in 
Efflngham,  financially,  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder, 
but  he  had  the  advantage  of  extensive  acquaint- 
ance and  a  high  reputation  in  his  profession.  In 
consequence,  he  soon  retrieved  his  losses  and  be- 
came comfortably  situated  again.  His  removal  to 
Ettingham  occurred  in  April,  1861,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  resided  continuously  in  this  place. 

At  the  time  of  Dr.  Le  Crone's  advent  into  Ewing- 
ton there  were  but  two  other  physicians  in  the 
county — Dr.  J.  M.  Long,  now  of  California,  and 
Dr.  C.  M.  Fally,  now  of  Wisconsin.  As  these 
two  gentlemen  long  since  took  their  departure, 
our  subject  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 
oldest  resident  physician  of  Efflngham  County. 
In  the  early  days  of  his  practice  in  Illinois,  Dr.  Le 
Crone's  circuit  involved  many  long  rides,  in  which 
he  was  obliged  to  ford  bridgeless  streams  and  face 
many  a  wild  storm  on  a  trackless  prairie.  His 
practice  extended  beyond  Efflngham  County,  into 
Shelby,  Fayette,  Clay  and  Jasper  Counties.  Being 
blessed  with  a  peculiarly  hardy  constitution  and 
with  great  powers  of  endurance,  he  was  enabled 
to  do  an  immense  amount  of  work  and  proved  a 
most  welcome  visitor  in  the  distant  homes  of  the 
afflicted,  in  the  well-remembered  so-called  sickly 
seasons  of  pioneer  times. 

In  June,  1864,  Dr.  Le  Crone  entered  the  volun- 
teer military  service  of  the  United  States  as  one 
of  the  one  hundred  day  men,  and  acted  as  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  served  the  term  of  his  enlist- 


ment and  on  his  return  from  the  army  resumed 
practice  in  Efflngham.  He  pursued  his  business 
with  marked  success  until  the  fall  of  1886,  when 
he  abandoned  that  work  for  a  time,  having  been 
elected  County  Clerk  of  Efflngham  County.  He 
was  re-elected  in  the  fall  of  1890,  and  is  now  in 
the  middle  of  his  second  term. 

In  early  life  Dr.  Le  Crone  was  a  Whig  and  voted 
for  William  Henry  Harrison  for  President  in  1840. 
Twenty  years  later,  in  1860,  he  began  voting  with 
the  Democrats,  supporting  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
for  the  Presidency,  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  that  great  party.  His  first  official  position  in 
Illinois  was  that  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  he 
flllled  in  New  England.  He  has  also  served  three 
terms  as  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Efflngham. 

Ten  children  were  born  unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Le 
Crone,  of  whom  nine  are  yet  living.  William  C.,  the 
eldest,  married  Miss  Lina  Kagay,  and  is  a  commer- 
cial traveler  residing  in  Efflngham.  Albert  W.  is  a 
lawyer  by  profession,  and  also  resides  in  Effingham. 
His  present  wife  was  Miss  Lizzie  Wood.  Martha 
became  the  wife  of  John  Cullom,  a  resident  of 
Crawford  County,  111.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Nelson 
Staats,  of  St.  Louis.  Eliza  died  in  1877.  She  was 
twice  married.  Her  first  husband,  William  J.  Boyce, 
was  killed  in  the  attack  on  Ft.  Donelson.  In  her 
widowhood  she  became  the  wife  of  William  M- 
Thompson,  of  this  city.  At  her  death  she  left  two 
children,  a  daughter  born  of  each  marriage.  Har- 
riet M.  is  the  wife  of  C.  W.  Smith,  a  resident  of 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  who  is  employed  as  a  conductor 
on  the  Vandalia  Railroad.  George  M.  married 
Frances  Nitcher,  and  is  now  the  able  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Effingham  Democrat.  Lewis  mar- 
ried Sophia  Gyon,  and  is  living  at  Effingham. 
Nellie,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  the  wife  of 
S.  D.  Prouty,  a  conductor  on  the  Diamond  Special 
Train  and  a  resident  of  Efflngham. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1892,  Dr.  Le  Crone  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  most  estimable 
wife,  who  had  been  his  companion  through  fifty- 
four  years  of  wedded  life.  She  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
her  death  was  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  The  Doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  oldest  medical  society  in  the  State,  the  Wabash 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


217 


Esculapian  Society.  He  was  once  President  of  the 
Eflingham  County  Medical  Society,  now  defunct, 
and  also  held  membership  with  the  State  Med- 
ical Society.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  Chapter 
No.  87,  R.  A.  M.,  and  also  of  Efflngham  Lodge  No. 
149,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Efflngham.  He  is  also  an 
Odd  Fellow,  but  the  lodge  to  which  he  once 
belonged  is  now  extinct.  The  Doctor  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  county  for  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury and  has  ever  been  connected  with  its  prom- 
inent interests,  aiding  largely  in  its  develop- 
ment and  upbuilding.  His  career  as  a  physician 
has  been  most  successful,  and  well  deserving  is  he 
of  his  high  reputation.  As  a  citizen,  he  is  valued 
throughout  the  community,  and  his  untarnished 
official  record  has  won  him  high  commendation. 


*==*==* 


bHOMAS  S.  LOY,  a  representative  and  well- 
known  farmer  residing  on  section  20,  Wat- 
son Township,  is  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Efflngham  County.  In  fact,  he 
was  born  in  the  township  which  is  still  his  home, 
January  29,  1837.  His  father,  Joseph  C.  Loy, 
was  a  native  of  Alabama,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. He  married  Rachel  Sharp,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  five  children,  as  follows:  James, 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Watson  Township; 
Lizzie  J.,  widow  of  William  Bryant,  and  a  resi- 
dent of  the  same  township;  Thomas,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch;  John  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  in  Watson  Township;  and 
Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of  Andy  Wilson, 
and  died  in  1891.  Throughout  his  entire  life  the 
father  of  this  family  followed  farming.  Leaving 
his  native  State  in  1827,  lie  emigrated  to  Shelby 
County,  111.,  and  after  a  3'ear  came  to  Efflngham 
County.  The  journey  was  made  by  team.  Since 
1828,  the  Loy  family  has  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  the  community.  They 
settled  on  what  is  now  section  21,  Watson  Town- 
ship, made  a  claim,  and  when  the  land  came  into 


market  Joseph  Loy  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  18,  Watson  Township.  He 
erected  a  log  cabin  and  into  it  the  family  moved, 
living  in  true  pioneer  style.  He  cleared  his  land, 
planted  crops  and  devoted  his  energies  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  that  farm  until  1859,  when  he  sold  out 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  on  section  21,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death.  The  Indians  were  very 
numerous  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Loy 
family,  and  the  city  of  Vandalia  was  only  a  mere 
trading-post.  They  bore  all  the  trials  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life,  and  experienced  the  difficul- 
ties one  has  in  developing  a  new  farm.  Mr.  Loy 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in 
politics  was  a  Republican.  He  died  February  6, 
1892,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Loy  Cemetery,  in  Watson 
Township.  His  wife,  who  was  also  a  member  of 
the  same  church,  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in 
1884. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
in  Watson  Township.  The  first  school  which  he 
attended  was  held  in  a  log  house  and  he  conned 
his  lessons  while  seated  on  slab  benches.  As  soon 
as  old  enough  he  began  to  aid  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm,  and  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
services  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself.  For  two  years  he 
operated  a  rented  farm  and  then  purchased  forty 
acres  on  section  18,  Watson  Township,  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead,  where  he  lived  for  two  years.  It 
was  about  that  time,  in  1862,  that  Mr.  Loy  re- 
sponded to  his  country's  call  for  troops  and  enlisted 
asa  privateof  Company  I, Seventy-first  Illinois  In- 
fantry. He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Catnp 
Butler,  at  Springfield,  HI.,  and  served  for  one  hun- 
dred days,  when  he  was  honorabty  discharged. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  Mr.  Loy  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  on  section  21,  Watson  Township,  where  he 
lived  for  two  years.  He  then  sold  out  and  bought 
the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  comprising 
forty  acres  of  land  on  section  20. 

In  1858  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Harriet  E.  Smith,  daughter  of  H.  L.  and  Har- 
riet E.  (Rouse)  Smith.  The  following  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union:  Alice,  Mary  E., 


218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Belle,  Charlie,  George  E.;  Hattie,  who  died  in 
1876;  Smithe,  who  died  in  1874;  Alonzo  and  Corn. 
The  Loy  family  is  one  well  known  in  this  com- 
munity and  its  members  rank  high  in  social  cir- 
cles. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Loy  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post.  In  his  political  views,  he  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  and  has  warmly  advocated  the  principles 
of  that  party  since  becoming  a  voter.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  Constable  and  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  twenty-four  years,  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  Assessor,  School  Treasurer  and  Township 
Collector.  His  duties  have  been  promptly  and 
faithfully  performed.  In  all  the  public  or  private 
trusts  of  life,  Mr.  Loy  has  discharged  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  with  a  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity which  have  won  him  the  commendation  of  all 
concerned.  He  is  a  good  business  man  and  has 
won  a  position  among  the  substantial  citizens  of 
the  community. 


V.  CRONK,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  10,  Watson  Township, 
Effingham  County,  has  the  honor  of  being 
a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
January  5, 1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Harmon  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Loy)  Cronk.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State  and  was  of  German  descent. 
The  family  numbered  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Mary,  who  is  now  deceased;  William,  of  this  sketch; 
American,  who  follows  farming  in  Watson  Town- 
ship; James,  a  resident  of  Effingham;  Washington, 
now  a  resident  of  Clinton  County;  Rachel,  who 
is  now  deceased;  and  one  child  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

The  father  of  this  family  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  removed  from  the 
Empire  State  to  Illinois,  making  the  journey  by 
team,  and  located  in  Shelby  County.  In  1832  he 
removed  to  Effingham  County,  locating  near 
Ewington.  He  purchased  timber  and  bottom  land 


from  the  Government,  and  clearing  those  tracts 
developed  a  farm,  on  which  he  resided  until  about 
1837.  He  then  became  a  resident  of  Watson  Town- 
ship and  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  Govern- 
ment land  on  section  10.  There  he  erected  a  log 
cabin,  which  is  still  standing,  one  of  the  few  land- 
marks that  yet  remain  to  show  the  progress  that 
has  since  been  made.  Upon  the  farm  which  he  there 
improved,  Mr.  Cronk  resided  until  his  death, which 
occurred  September  19,  1872.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  the  Loy  Cemetery.  He  was  quite  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  and  in  an  early 
day  served  his  township  as  Assessor  for  two  terms. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  She,  too,  has  passed  away,  dying 
October  14,  1877,  and  lies  _buried  in  Loy  Ceme- 
tery. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  six  months 
old  when  his  parents  came  to  Effingham  County, 
and  was  a  lad  of  about  five  summers  when  his  fa- 
ther removed  to  Watson  Township.  At  the  age 
of  nine  he  drove  a  yoke  of  oxen  for  his  father  to 
haul  rails  all  around  twenty  acres  of  land.  His 
educational  privileges  were  quite  limited.  He, 
however,  attended  the  subscription  schools  fora 
short  time.  Under  the  parental  roof  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority  and  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself.  The  first  work  he  did  was 
to  cut  ties  and  he  walked  to  and  from  his  work, 
a  distance  of  two  miles.  In  this  way  he  made  $50. 
He  then  went  to  Vandalia  and  purchased  a  sol- 
dier's warrant  for  forty  acres  of  land  on  section 
14,  Watson  Township,  a  tract  of  prairie.  After 
spending  about  a  year  on  that  farm,  he  went  to 
Effingham  and  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  store  for  a 
short  time.  Later  he  returned  to  his  father's  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  1872.  In  that  year  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  partially  improved  land  on 
section  10,  where  he  has  since  resided.  The  boun- 
daries of  his  farm,  however,  he  has  since  extended, 
until  it  now  comprises  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  acres,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved. 

Mr.  Cronk  was  married  December  29,  1862,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Wiley,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Foultz)  Wile}-.  She  was  born  in  December,  1849, 
in  Alabama.  By  their  union  our  subject  and  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


219 


wife  have  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely: 
Ulysses,  born  July  31,  1868;  Sidney,  August  4, 
1871;  Viola,  August  24,  1875;  Sarah  E.,  June  27, 
1879;  William  R.,  July  5,  1882;  Ida,  August  27, 
1886;  and  Martha,  August  26,  1889. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Cronk  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  held  the  office  of  Township  Col- 
lector for  two  terms.  He  has  also  served  as  School 
Trustee,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the  com- 
munity. He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  do  much  for 
its  advancement  and  progress.  Mr.  Cronk  is  rec- 
ognized as  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citi- 
zen and  a  man  of  sterling  worth.  His  property 
represents  his  industry,  good  management  and 
economy  and  is  as  a  monument  to  his  labors. 


SHEAMBRAW  CANNING  COMPANY,  of 
Newton,  one  of  the  successful  industries  of 
Jasper  County,  was  organized  in  the  spring 
of  1889,  and  has  been  successful  from  the  start. 
The  second  season  it  doubled  its  business,  the  third 
trebled  it,  and  it  is  still  increasing  its  facilities.  Its 
proprietors  are  the  Martin  brothers,  W.  C.  and 
E.  T.,  who  constitute  the  well-known  mercantile 
house  of  T.  J.  Martin's  Sons,  of  Newton.  These 
gentlemen  expect  to  have  two  hundred  acres 
planted  in  tomatoes  for  the  season  of  1893,  from 
which  to  draw  their  supply  of  raw  material  of 
that  product.  Besides  they  will  can  a  consid- 
erable quantity  of  beans  and  a  large  amount 
of  apples,  peaches  and  other  fruits.  The  output 
for  the  season  of  1 893  in  the  matter  of  tomatoes 
alone  is  safely  estimated  at  two  hundred  thou- 
sand cans,  and  of  fruit  in  proportion  to  the  abun- 
dance of  the  crop.  About  seventy-five  hands  will 
be  employed. 

Although  comparatively  new  in  business,  the 
goods  of  this  company  have  by  their  superior  ex- 
cellence already  won  a  wide-spread  reputation, 


which  is  best  attested  by  the  rapidly  growing  de- 
mand for  them  and  the  liberal  orders  sent  in, 
which  in  the  past  season  were  far  in  excess  of  the 
facilities  of  the  company. 


REDERICK  AMETER,  deceased,  for 
forty-four  years  made  his  home  in  Rich- 
land  Count}',  devoting  his  energy  to  the 
cultivation  of  his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  6,  Olney  Township.  This  place 
is  pleasantly  and  conveniently  located  three  miles 
west  of  the  city  of  Olney.  In  the  midst  of  the 
well-tilled  fields  are  a  good  frame  residence,  barns 
and  other  outbuildings.  There  is  also  an  orchard, 
together  with  all  the  other  modern  improvements 
and  conveniences  of  a  first-class  farm. 

Mr.  Ameter  was  born  on  May  5,  1822,  in  the 
canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  and  was  the  young- 
est in  a  family  numbering  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  whose  parents  were  William  and  Susan 
(Shafer)  Ameter.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation, and  followed  that  business  throughout 
his  entire  life.  He  died  in  his  native  land  in 
1826,  when  our  subject  was  only  four  years  of 
age.  Frederick  remained  at  home  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  until  about  twenty-seven  years  of 
age,  and  worked  as  a  cattle-herder  for  $5  per 
month.  Hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition, 
he  at  length  bade  adieu  to  friends  and  native  land 
and  in  1849  took  passage  on  a  Westward-bound 
sailing-vessel,  accompanied  by  his  mother  and 
brother  Christian.  The  latter,  however,  died  two 
months  later.  The  mother  purchased  a  small 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  Grand  Prairie,  in  Preston 
Township,  Richland  County,  111.,  and  there  lived 
with  her  son  until  her  death,  which  occurred  in 
1853.  She  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  German  Re- 
formed Cemetery. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1851,  Mr.  Ameter  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucinda  Balmer,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Switzerland  and  attended  the 
same  school  as  her  husband  during  her  girlhood. 


220 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Seven  children  were  born  of  this  union,  and 
in  order  of  birth  they  were  as  follows:  Frederick, 
who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm; 
Jacob,  who  is  a  resident  of  Colorado;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Jacob  Betebenner,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Rich  land  County;  Caroline,  deceased;  Josephine, 
wife  of  John  F.  Glathart,  a  well-known  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  of  this  county;  John,  who  went  to 
Alaska,  where  his  death  occurred  when  twenty- 
five  years  of  age;  and  Clara,  who  is  still  under 
the  parental  roof. 

The  parents  of  this  family  were  both  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  highly  re- 
spected people,  whose  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter gained  them  warm  regard.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  Mr.  Ameter  was  a  Republican. 
He  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district,  and 
held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  for  the 
long  period  of  twenty  years,  a  fact  which  indi- 
cated his  faithfulness  and  fidelity  to  duty.  His 
fellow-townsmen  and  those  who  knew  him  speak 
of  him  as  an  honorable,  upright  man,  straightfor- 
ward in  all  his  dealings.  His  life  was  well  spent, 
and  his  example  might  be  followed  to  advantage 
by  many.  He  came  to  this  country  without  capi- 
tal, but  had  no  occasion  to  regret  his  determina- 
tion to  try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World,  for  he 
here  met  with  prosperity  and  gained  a  comfortable 
home  and  many  friends.  Mr.  Ameter  died  at  his 
home  on  the  24th  of  May,  1893,  and  his  remains 
lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Olney. 


eHRISTIAN  P.  LEATHERMAN,    a   highly 
respected    citizen    of     Mason,    ElHngham 
County,  is  a  retired    blacksmith    and  gun- 
smith.    After  a  long   business   career    he    has  at 
length  put  aside  life's  labors  and  is  now  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest.     He  was  born  in   Ohio,  on  the 
10th  of  July,   1814,   and    is  a  son   of  John    and 
Wilhelmina  Henrietta  (Hankins)  Leatherman.  The 
father  was  a  native  of    Ohio,   and    was   of  Dutch 
descent.     The  grandfather  of  our   subject,    Peter 


Leatherman,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
also  lived  in  Mississippi  and  Ohio.  He  died  when 
about  seventy-five  years  of  age.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  a  native  of  Germany.  Her  father 
came  to  this  country  when  quite  an  old  man.  By 
the  union  of  John  and  Wilhelmina  Leatherman 
were  born  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter: Henry,  David,  Dorothy  and  Christian  P. 
With  the  exception  of  our  subject  all  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  black- 
smith and  gunsmith,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
followed  that  business  in  Orange  County,  Ind., 
where  his  death  occurred  about  184C.  His  wife 
passed  away  the  year  previous.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  Dunkard  Church,  and  lived  to 
quite  an  advanced  age. 

Christian  P.  Leatherman  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Indiana,  near  Little  Orleans,  where  he  leained 
his  trade  and  received  his  education.  He  attended 
school  in  the  little  old-fashioned  log  schoolhouse, 
with  its  puncheon  floor  and  slab  seats,  upon  which 
the  scholars  sat  conning  their  lessons.  He  remained 
at  home  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
learning  the  business  which  he  has  made  his  life 
work. 

On 'the  20th  of  October,  1836,  near  Little  Orle- 
ans, Ind.,  Mr.  Leatherman  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Krutsinger,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  .Sarah  (Lee) 
Krutsinger.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see. Her  father  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  was 
of  Dutch  descent.  By  the  union  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife  were  born  twelve  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  yet  living.  Sarah,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Cornwell,  a  blacksmith  of  Golden 
City,  Mo.,  by  whom  she  has  seven  children: 
Henrietta,  Christian  P.,  Charles,  Lewis,  Robert, 
Mary  and  Alice.  Samuel  is  now  deceased.  Henri- 
etta and  Harrison  have  also  passed  away.  William 
married  Miss  Keziah  J.  Davis,  and  resides  in  Far- 
ina, 111.,  where  lie  is  engaged  in  teaching,  being  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Church.  They  have 
four  children:  Frank,  Delia,  Charles  and  Lewis. 
Jacob,  who  is  also  a  Methodist  preacher,  married 
Miss  Jane  Misenhamer  and  resides  in  Anna,  111. 
They  have  three  children:  Effle,  Clarence  and 
Elsie.  Nancy  is  now  deceased.  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Hale,  a  blacksmith  of  Louisville,  111. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


221 


Four  children  have  been  born  unto  them:  Driley, 
Artie,  Levi  and  Bessie.  James  H.  married  Miss 
Lottie  Golden,  by  whom  he  has  five  children: 
Myrtle,  Eddie,  William,  Gertrude  and  a  baby. 
They  reside  in  Macon,  111.,  where  he  carries  on 
business  as  a  brick  mason  and  a  plasterer.  Harvey 
T.  married  Miss  Mary  Andrews  and  with  his  wife 
and  child,  Earl  Orville,  resides  in  Mason,  111. 
George  W.  married  Miss  Alice  Dunlap  and  is  a 
blacksmith  and  silversmith  of  Walnut,  Kan.  Alice 
is  the  wife  of  Pierce  Goodnight,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  in  p]dgewood,  111.  They  have  two 
children,  William  and  James. 

The  yenr  1844  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Leatherman  in  Illinois,  he  locating  in  Clay  County, 
near  Saylor  Springs.  The  county  was  then  wild 
and  but  sparsely  settled.  The  prairie  grass  was 
higher  than  a  man's  head  when  he  was  seated  on 
horseback.  Many  prairie  fires  occurred  and  were 
a  source  of  terror  to  the  inhabitants.  All  kinds 
of  wild  game,  including  turkeys,  prairie  chickens 
and  ducks  were  plentiful,  and  wolves  and  wild  hogs 
were  very  numerous.  There  were  also  large  herds 
of  deer  and  in  one  season  Mr.  Leatherman  killed 
seventy-five  of  those  animals. 

During  his  residence  in  Indiana,  our  subject 
enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  serv- 
ing under  Col.  Bowles  and  Gen.  Jo  Lane.  He 
removed  from  the  vicinity  of  Saylor  Springs 
to  Oskaloosa,  in  the  same  county,  and  there  re- 
sided for  about  four  years.  It  was  in  the  year 
1868  that  he  came  to  Mason  and  opened  a  shop,  in 
which  he  carried  on  blacksmithing  and  gunsmith- 
ing  until  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  His  life  has 
been  a  busy  and  useful  one  and  by  his  industry 
and  enterprise  he  has  gained  a  comfortable  com- 
petence, which  now  enables  him  to  live  in  retire- 
ment. He  owns  a  good  home  property  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  in  the  community  lie  has  man3'  friends. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Leatherman  is  a  Democrat.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  both  faithful  and  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church, of  which  he  lias  been 
an  Elder  since  its  organization.  He  labors  ear- 
nestly for  its  upbuilding  and  growth  and  is  an 
earnest  worker  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  He  is  a 
man  of  benevolent  and  kindly  impulses,  and  the 
poor  and  needy  find  in  him  a  valued  friend.  He 


is  a  plain,  unassuming  man,  but  his  very  unprc- 
tcntiousness  has  won  him  high  respect.  His  word 
is  never  broken,  his  promises  are  always  kept,  and 
his  career  has  been  an  honorable  and  upright  one. 
Mr.  Leatherman  is  now  about  seventy-nine  years 
of  age,  and  his  wife  has  reached  her  seventy-second 
year.  This  worthy  couple  have  traveled  life's 
journey  together  for  the  long  period  of  fifty-six 
years.  Their  mutual  love  and  confidence  have  in- 
creased as  time  has  passed  and  hand-in-hand  they 
go  down  the  hill  of  life  together.  Well  may  their 
children  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  their  honored 
parents. 


JOHN  WILLIAM  ALOYSIUS  WORMAN, 
of  the  firm  of  Wright  &  Worman,  law,  ab- 
!  stract,  real-estate  and  loan  firm  of  Efling- 
'  ham,  who  is  known  as  A.  J.  Worman,  is  one 
of  the  most  enterprising  young  business  men  of 
the  city.  He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Vin- 
cennes,  Knox  County,  May  23,  1857.  lie  is  a  son 
of  John  Joseph  and  Mary  (VerWayne)  Worman, 
of  whom  see  sketcli  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  came  to  Effingham,  111.,  with  his  par- 
ents in  1859,  where  upon  attaining  a  suitable  age 
he  attended  the  parochial  schools.  At  the  early 
age  of  thirteen  years,  he  commenced  learning  the 
printer's  trade,  which  he  was  forced  to  leave  in  a 
year  on  account  of  failing  health.  In  June,  1870, 
he  was  employed  in  assisting  his  father,  who  was 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  of  Effing- 
ham  Count3',  and  continued  with  him  and  his  suc- 
cessor in  office  until  August,  1874.  At  that  time, 
he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged  in  type- 
setting in  a  stamp  factory,  where  he  was  employed 
about  ay  ear. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1875,  Mr.  Worman  and 
Miss  Frances  C.  Kempf  were  married  in  St.  Louis. 
She  was  born  in  Greenburg,  Ind.,  December  18, 
1854,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Kempf.  Five  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Worman,  of  whom  four  are  living:  Anna  Frances, 


222 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Clara  Constance,  Loraine  Regina,  Lillie  Gabriel 
and  Albert  Winfield,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Worman  accepted  a 
position  as  collector  for  Richard  Booth,  a  picture 
dealer  of  St.  Louis,  and  subsequently  engaged  in 
the  business  of  picture-framing  for  himself  which 
he  continued  until  October,  1877.  He  then  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Effingham,  and  upon 
his  arrival  in  this  city  became  assistant  to  Will- 
iam C.  Le  Crone,  then  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court 
and  Recorder  for  Efflngham  County.  He  remained 
with  him  and  his  successor  until  January  1,  1882. 
lie  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Capt.  A.  W. 
Le  Crone,  in  the  real -estate  and  abstract  business. 
During  his  term  of  service  in  the  Recorder's  office, 
Mr.  Worman  had  been  working  up  a  set  of  abstract 
books,  which  he  has  since  kept  up  to  date.  His 
office  now  has  the  only  full  set  of  the  kind  to  be 
found  in  Effingham  County.  His  connection  with 
Capt.  Le  Crone  was  maintained  until  September  1, 
1890,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  He 
continued  business  alone  until  January,  1892, 
when  the  existing  partnership  with  W.  B.  Wright 
was  formed. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Worman  is  a  Democrat,  and 
while  active  and  earnest  in  support  of  his  party, 
has  not  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  He 
and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
belonging  to  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  at 
Effingham,  which  he  aided  in  building. 

Mr.  Worman  was  instrumental  in  organizing 
and  establishing  the  Effingham  Manufacturing 
Company,  of  which  he  was  Secretary  and  Manager, 
having  charge  of  the  construction  of  the  plant, 
and  he  has  been  a  stockholder  in  it  until  recently, 
when  he  sold  out  his  interest.  He  organized  the 
first  Building  and  Loan  Association  in  Eflingham, 
known  as  the  Washington  Loan  and  Building  Asso- 
ciation, and  for  four  years,  from  1883  until  1887, 
served  as  its  Secretary.  He  leased  the  ground  for 
the  Effingham  Base  Ball  Park,  and  was  one  of  the 
promoters  and  organizers  of  that  institution.  In 
fact,  Mr.  Worman  has  been  actively  and  prorui- 
mently  identified  with  many  enterprises  and  pub- 
lic affairs  which  have  tended  to  benefit  the  city,  and 
is  recognized  as  an  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
citizen.  His  record  as  a  business  man  is  above  re- 


proach, and  he  enjoys,  as  he  well  deserves,  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens  to  n 
marked  degree.  He  was  early  deprived  of  his 
mother's  care,  as  her  death  occurred  when  he  was 
eleven  years  old.  His  father  is  still  a  resident  of 
Effingham. 


j.  AVIlJ  WHEELER,  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  Richland  County  for  thirty-seven  years, 
now  follows  farming  on  section  6,  Olney 
Township.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citi- 
zens that  Maryland  has  furnished  to  this  commu- 
nity. He  was  born  in  Baltimore  County  on  the 
14th  of  November,  1837,  and  is  the  tenth  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  ten  sons 
and  five  daughters.  With  one  exception,  all  grew 
to  mature  years,  and  eleven  of  the  number  still 
survive.  The  parents  were  Wason  and  Anna 
(Samson)  Wheeler.  The  former  was  born  in  Mary- 
land in  1798,  and  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm 
in  that  State.  Having  attained  to  mature  years, 
he  wedded  Miss  Samson,  whose  birth  occurred  De- 
cember 1,  1803.  Mr.  Wheeler  served  in  the  Mex- 
ican War,  and  continued  his  farming  operations 
in  his  native  State  for  several  j'ears  after  his  mar- 
riage, when  he  went  to  Richland  County,  Ohio. 
There  he  remained  until  1853,  when  he  came  to 
Richland  County,  111.,  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
wild  timberland.  Upon  the  farm  which  he  opened 
up  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  January  8, 
1877.  His  wife  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  De- 
cember, 1892. 

Our  subject  was  a  babe  of  a  year  when  the  par- 
ents emigrated  with  their  family  to  the  Buckeye 
State.  He  then  lived  in  Ohio  until  fifteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  came  to  Richland  County,  111. 
No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  which  were 
quietl}'  passed  at  home.  On  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity,  he  commenced  earning  his  own  liveli- 
hood by  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month. 
After  one  year  thus  passed,  he  abandoned  the 
plow  for  the  rifle,  and,  donning  the  blue,  enlisted 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


223 


in  Company  B,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
in  July,  1H62,  for  three-years  service.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  right  cheek  by  a  ball  fiom  a 
rebel  gun,  which  broke  his  jaw  and  then  came  out 
of  his  ear.  He  did  faithful  service  and  partici- 
pated in  a  number  of  engagements. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Wheeler  was  hon- 
orably discharged  and  returned  to  his  home.  Soon 
afterward  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  timber  land 
on  section  6,  Olney  Township,  and,  after  clearing 
away  the  trees,  plowed  and  planted  it.  In  course 
of  time  the  once  undeveloped  tract  yielded  to  him 
abundant  harvests.  Since  that  time  he  has  de- 
voted his  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
now  owns  thirty-eight  acres  of  good  land  three 
miles  west  of  Olncy,  which  are  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  He  also  owns 
sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  Noble  Township,  twenty- 
five  of  which  are  under  cultivation. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1866,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Wheeler  and  Miss  Amanda 
Madden.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  her  birth 
having  occurred  July  10,  1844.  Unto  them  were 
born  three  children,  but  only  one  is  now  living. 
Willie  C.,  the  eldest,  died  in  early  childhood,  and 
Bennie  is  also  deceased.  Olivia  Edith,  born  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1880,  is  the  only  one  now  living.  The 
mother  died  in  Olney  Township  January  23,  1891, 
and  was  buried  in  Baline  Cemetery.  Mr.  Wheeler 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
in  politics  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  part}'. 
During  the  long  years  of  his  residence  here  his 
life  has  been  so  honorable  and  straightforward  that 
he  has  won  universal  confidence  and  esteem,  and 
has  the  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances. 


ON.  STEPHEN  H  ARDIN,  who  is  engaged  in 
Iff  )l'i  merchandising  in  Mason,  has  for  thirty- 
qjr  seven  years  been  prominently  connected 
with  the  interests  of  this  community.  He 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ind.,  near  H.ird- 
insburgh,  September  18,  1818.  His  father  was  John 


Hardin,  and  the  paternal  grandfather  bore  the 
same  name.  The  latter  moved  with  his  son  to  In- 
diana, where  he  and  his  wife  died.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  native  of  Burke  County,  N.  C. 
When  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  removed 
from  that  State  to  Indiana,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  lived  in  Washington  County,  and 
became  a  large  stock  dealer,  making  a  specialty  of 
the  breeding  of  horses.  Mr.  Hardin  married  Miss 
Ellen  Colclasure,  who  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ky.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Colclasure. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Germany.  He  emi- 
grated to  this  country,  for  a  time  was  a  resident  of 
Kentucky,  and  afterwards  became  a  farmer  of  In- 
diana, where  his  last  days  were  spent. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardin  was  born  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years,  were  married 
and  had  families  of  their  own.  In  order  of  birth 
they  were  as  follows:  Stephen;  Abram,  now  de- 
ceased; Elisha;  John,  now  deceased;  Aaron  T.;  Ja- 
cob M.;  Leander;  Susan  and  Abbie  Adeline,  also 
deceased;  Sarah  E.  and  Mary  E.  Sarah  was  twice 
married.  She  became  the  wife  of  Moel  Wood,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children,  yet  living.  After  his 
death  she  married  Joseph  Gibson,  but  he  is  also  de- 
ceased. She  makes  her  home  in  Mason.  Mary  be- 
came the  wife  of  Jefferson  Crane,  who  died  leaving 
five  children.  She  is  now  Mrs.  Rhodes,  and  re- 
sides with  her  husband  in  Knoxville,  Iowa.  The 
father  of  this  family  came  to  Mason  in  1864.  and 
made  his  home  with  his  children  and  grandchil- 
dren until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  February, 
1884,  in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  at  the 
home  of  his  son,  Stephen.  His  wife  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  about  eleven  years  previous,  dying  in 
1872.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Stephen  Ilardin,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
reared  to  manhood  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  ac- 
I  quired  hisx  education  iu  the  district  schools  of 
Washington  County,  Ind.,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  teaching  in  that  community.  On  the  9th  of 
March,  1841,  he  was  joined  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Mary,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Barnet) 
Stalcup,  the  former  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Six  sous  and  four 


224 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


daughters  were  born  of  this  union.  Elizabeth  E., 
the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  Nelson,  a  carpen- 
ter residing  in  Mason.  They  have  five  children 
living:  William  M.,  who  is  a  switchman  in  the 
railroad  yards  at  Cairo,  111.,  and  married  Florence 
E.  Bowling,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Blanche 
E.;  Jennie,  Mrs.  Ircy,  whose  husband  is  a  farmer  of 
Mason  Township;  Mary,  wife  of  William  O'Don- 
n ell;  and  Sophrenus  H.  and  Stephen  H.  John  8., 
the  eldest  son  of  Stephen  Hardin,  our  subject,  en- 
listed for  the  late  Civil  war  in  August,  1861,  as  a 
member  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  but 
soon  contracted  disease  and  died  in  October  of 
the  same  year.  Jane  A.  is  the  wife  of  Morgan 
Cavanaugh,  of  Kepley  Springs,  Mason  Township. 
Susan  A.  died  in  infancy.  Peter  B.  married  Sina 
Baker,  and  resides  in  Edgewood,  111.  Leander  M. 
married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Debolt,  by  whom  he  has  four 
children,  Ora,  Earl,  Stephen  A.  and  John,  and  re- 
sides in  Mason.  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  C. 
Martin,  of  Mason,  and  they  have  five  children  liv- 
ing: Maud,  Gertrude,  Ethel,  Nina  E.  and  Grace  F. 
Levi  married  Miss  Nora  Leith,and  his  wife  died  in 
February,  1890.  They  had  four  children,  two  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Jessie  F.  and  Charles  C. 
John  S.,  the  second  of  that  name,  married  Miss 
Minnie  Vandeusen,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Andrew  and  Mabel.  He  is  station  agent  and  tel- 
egraph operator  at  Clifford,  111.  The  other  child 
of  the  llardin  family,  a  son.  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  llardin,  our  subject,  removed  from  Indiana 
to  Clay  County,  111.,  in  1843,  and  resided  near 
Bible  Grove  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Effing- 
ham  County,  111.  Taking  up  his  residence  at  Ma- 
son, he  has  since  made  it  his  home.  During  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  he  has  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming  and  Stock-raising,  but  has  now  re- 
tired from  that  business  and  is  engaged  fn  mer- 
chandising. In  connection  with  his  son  he  owns 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Un- 
ion Township,  and  also  has  sixty  acres  of  timber 
land  about  three  miles  from  Mason,  while  within 
the  corporate  limits  of  the  village  he  owns  fifty 
acres  of  good  land,  upon  which  is  situated  his 
pleasant  home,  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable 
residences  in  the  town. 

When  Mr.  llardin  first  came  to  Illinois,  the  local- 


ity in  which  he  settled  was  all  wild  and  unim- 
proved, and  he  bore  all  the  experiences  and  pri- 
vations of  pioneer  life.  He  was  obliged  to  haul 
his  flour  from  St.  Louis  by  wagons,  and  ten  days 
were  required  to  make  the  round  trip.  During  his 
residence  in  Clay  County  he  served  as  Sheriff  from 
1850  until  1852.  He  has  held  various  offices  of 
honor  and  trust  in  Effingham  County,  and  in  1858 
was  elected  Representative  to  the  Illinois  General 
Assembly,  of  which  he  was  a  member  for  two  years. 
He  is  serving  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office 
he  has  held  for  six  years.  In  all  his  public  duties 
he  has  been  true  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him,  and 
has,  therefore,  won  the  commendation  of  all  con- 
cerned. He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Democratic  party.  For  thirty-seven 
years  Mr.  Hardin  has  been  a  resident  of  Mason, 
and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Effingham  County.  In  his  business  ca- 
reer he  has  met  with  success,  gaining  a  comforta- 
ble competence  through  his  own  industrious  and 
well-directed  efforts. 


ACOB  L.  BETEBENNER,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Richland  County,  re- 
siding on  section  6,  Olney  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Maryland,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Frederick  County,  on  the  8th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1837.  His  father  was  also  born  in  the  same 
State,  in  the  year  1801.  He  was  a  plasterer  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  during  his 
early  life.  In  later  years  he  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  George  Betebenner  married  Liddie 
Everhart,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1811,  and 
was  of  Dutch  descent.  In  the  spring  of  1859  they 
emigrated  Westward,  locating  in  Olney,  but  after 
six  months  spent  in  that  city  removed  to  Wabash 
County  and  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  their  days.  The  death  of 
the  mother  occurred  December  28,  1877,  and  the 
father  was  called  to  his  final  rest  December  20, 


? 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


227 


1886.     They  were  buried  side  by  side   in  a  Luth- 
eran cemetery  in  Wabash  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betebenner  had  a  family  of  nine 
children,  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom 
eight  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  John,  a  resident 
fanner  of  Crawford  County,  Neb.;  Ann  C.,  who  is 
the  widow  of  Hiram  E.  Smith, and  makes  her  home 
in  Wabash  County;  Jacob,  of  this  sketch;  Mary, 
wife  of  John  Xander,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Rich- 
land  County;  Ben  ton  E.,  a  painter  and  paper- 
hanger  of  Omaha,  Neb.;  Emma  J.,  wife  of  David 
Seibert,  who  is  clerking  in  a  dry-goods  store  in 
West  Salem,  111.;  Charles  F.,  who  is  in  the  West; 
and  Laura  E.,  who  completes  the  family.  George 
died  on  the  29th  of  April,  1887. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood under  the  parental  roof,  living  first  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Maryland,  then  upon  the  old 
homestead  in  Wabash  County.  In  the  public 
schools  he  acquired  a  good  education.  In  1868, 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  and  first  earned 
his  livelihood  by  clerking  in  a  store,  where  he  was 
employed  for  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Richland  County, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

On  the  llth  of  May,  1889,  Mr.  Betebenner  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Ameter,  a 
record  of  whose  family  is  given  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Frederick 
Ameter.  One  child  graces  this  union,  a  son,  Al- 
bert C.,  born  April  26,  1880.  The  family  resides 
in  a  beautiful  country  home  in  the  midst  of  a  fine 
farm,  comprising  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land.  In 
addition  to  the  residence  there  are  good  barns  and 
outbuildings,  and  all  the  improvements  found 
upon  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century.  The 
place  is  located  about  three  miles  west  of  Olney, 
and  thus  the  conveniences  of  the  city  are  easily 
attainable.  The  farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township,  and  the  owner  is  accounted  one  of  the 
leading  agriculturists.  Mr.  Betebenner  also  owns 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  by  his  home 
farm.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  German  Reformed 
Church.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  has  never  sought  or  desired  the  honors  or 
emoluments  of  public  ollice,  preferring  to  devote 

10 


his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  excellent  success.  He  de- 
serves great  credit  for  his  prosperity,  for  it  has  been 
achieved  entirely  through  his  own  well-directed 
efforts  in  the  legitimate  channels  of  business. 


EV.    FATHER    JOHN     MOLITOR   is    the 

present  pastor  of  St.  Thomas'  Catholic 
Church  of  Newton.  The  Catholics  were 
among  the  first  to  hold  religious  services  at 
this  place.  According  to  the  most  reliable  infor- 
mation that  can  be  obtained,  the  first  services  were 
conducted  at  the  residence  of  Mortimer  O'Kain, 
by  the  Rev.  Father  Fischer,  of  Ste.  Marie.  The 
meetings  continued  to  convene  at  that  place  until 
the  coming.of  the  first  resident  pastor,  Rev.  Cor- 
nelius Hoffmans,  who  came  in  October,  1873,  and 
remained  until  November,  1876.  Rev.  Mr.  Moli- 
tor's  pastorate  dates  from  January  28,  1877. 

The  first  church  building  was  a  frame  structure, 
erected  early  in  the  '50s,  and  which  is  now  used 
as  the  society  hall  of  the  church.  The  corner-stone 
of  the  present  commodious  brick  structure  was 
laid  in  the  spring  of  1880,  and  the  church  was  ded- 
icated on  the  21st  of  December  of  the  same  year. 
The  cost  of  this  building  was  about  $7,000.  A 
parochial  school,  numbering  about  seventy  pupils, 
is  also  sustained.  Father  Molitor's  congregation 
numbers  about  ninety  families.  The  church  has  a 
library  of  several  hundred  well-selected  books, 
which  are  kept  in  the  society  hall.  From  the  above 
account  it  will  be  seen  that  St.  Thomas'  is  one  of  the 
most  important  and  influential  religious  bodies  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  There  were  quite  a  number 
of  well-known  and  esteemed  early  settlers  who 
were  prominently  identified  with  the  early  history 
of  this  congregation,  among  whom  should  be  men- 
tioned S.  R.  Barker  and  Charles  Hollinger,  who 
have  but  recently  gone  to  their  reward. 

Rev.  John  Molitor  has  the  honor  of  being  a  na- 
tive of  this  State.  He  was  born  in  Clinton 


228 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


County  in  1845.  His  father,  William  Molitor, 
emigrated  to  this  country  from  Germany  in  1836. 
Landing  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  he  proceeded  to  New- 
Orleans,  and  in  1839,  went  from  there  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  spent  about  a  3'ear.  In  1840,  he 
settled  in  Clinton  County,  111.,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1868.  The  wife 
and  mother  survived  her  husband  for  twenty-four 
years,  dying  in  Breese,  Clinton  County,  111.,  at  the 
home  of  her  daughter,  in  1892.  Father  Molitor  is 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children,  numbering  five 
brothers  and  a  sister.  The  eldest,  Frank,  is  a  farmer 
by  occupation ;  Henry,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
is  deceased;  the  only  sister,  Jane,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Theodore  Kluth;  Father  Molitor  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Casper,  a  farmer,  occupies  the  old 
homestead  in  Clinton  County;  and  Rev.  William 
Molitor  is  a  Benedictian  in  Todd  County,  Minn., 
where  he  is  pastor  of  a  congregation. 

Father  Molitor  received  his  literary  education 
in  Teutopolis  and  pursued  a  theological  course  in 
St.  Francis,  near  Milwaukee.  He  was  ordained 
March  25,  1874,  in  Alton,  111.,  by  Bishop  Baltes. 
The  first  congregation  over  which  he  presided  as 
resident  pastor  was  at  Olney,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained from  the  8th  of  October,  1874,  until  he 
assumed  his  present  duties.  The  faithful  service 
with  which  Father  Molitor  discharges  the  duties 
which  devolve  upon  him  as  the  pastor  of  the 
church  to  which  he  is  devoting  his  life  work  is 
shown  by  the  substantial  and  religious  growth  that 
has  attended  his  labors. 


eHARLES  LAUNER,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
and    representative    farmers    of    Richland 
County,    residing   on  section  17,  in  Olney 
Township,  is  of  Swiss  birth.     He  was  born  in  Berne, 
Switzerland,  on  the  16th  of  June,  1837,  and  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  number- 
ing seven  sons  and  four  daughters.     The  parents, 
Stephen  and  Catherine  (Roth)  Launer,  were  also 


natives  of  that  country.  The  father  was  a  tailor 
by  trade,  and  followed  that  business  in  Switzer- 
land until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1843,  when 
our  subject  was  a  lad  of  six  years. 

Two  years  later,  in  1845,  Charles  accompanied 
his  mother  and  three  brothers  and  two  sisters  to 
America,  and  the  family  made  their  way  to  Rich- 
land  County,  111.,  locating  upon  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  1846.  The  elder  brother  died  about  a 
year  later,  after  which  the  family  was  scattered, 
and  our  subject  went  to  live  on  a  farm  with  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Weiss.  Since  that  early  day 
he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
worked  by  the  month  until  1859,  when,  with  the 
capital  which  he  had  secured  as  the  result  of  his 
industry  and  economy,  he  bought  forty  acres  of 
land  where  he  now  lives,  and  began  the  develop- 
ment of  a  farm,  devoting  his  energies  to  its  im- 
provement until  1861. 

In  June  of  that  year,  Mr.  Launer  offered  his 
services  to  his  adopted  country,  and  joined  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  A,  Benton  Cadet  In- 
fantry, in  which  he  served  three  months.  He  then 
joined  the  Sixty-third  Illinois,  and  was  in  the  ser- 
vice until  January,  1865.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  battle  of  Ft.  Derucy,  but  after  a  couple  of 
weeks  was  released.  He  was  never  wounded  but 
had  several  narrow  escapes.  On  one  occasion  a 
part  of  his  coat  was  shot  off  by  a  cannon  ball. 
After  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  he  returned 
to  Richland  County  and  resumed  farming. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1865,  Mr.  Launer  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline  Glathart, 
who  was  born  October  23, 1843,  in  Carroll  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Voncannel)  Glathart.  Her  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Switzerland.  Crossing  the  broad  Atlantic 
they  settled  in  Ohio  in  1829,  and  in  1845  came 
to  Illinois,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  The  father  died  in  October,  1866,  and 
the  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  Jan- 
ary,  1872.  Eight  children  were  born  of  the  un- 
ion of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Launer,  a  son  and  seven 
daughters,  but  two  died  in  early  childhood.  Emma 
C.  is  the  wife  of  David  Shaw,  a  farmer  of  Ma- 
con  Count\-,  111.;  Alice  M.  is  the  wife  of  George 
Kinkade,  an  agriculturist  of  this  county;  Carrie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


229 


V.  and  Lulu  are  both  popular  and  successful 
school  teachers;  Stella  M.  and  June  G.  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof. 

The  Republican  party  finds  in  Mr.  Launer  one 
of  its  loyal  and  stanch  advocates.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
has  voted  for  each  nominee  for  the  office  since 
that  time.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  for 
several  years  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
as  Commissioner  of  Highways,  the  duties  of  which 
position  he  has  discharged  with  credit  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  Eli  Bowyer  Post  No.  92, 
G.  A.  R.,  and  himself  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  The  Launer  home  is  a 
pleasant  one,  situated  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved  with  all  the 
accessories  of  a  model  farm.  In  connection 
with  general  farming,  Mr.  Launer  is  also  exten- 
sively engaged  in  sheep-raising.  His  property 
represents  his  own  efforts,  as  the  advantages  of  his 
youth  were  very  meagre,  but  he  has  made  the 
most  of  his  opportunities  through  life,  and  a  com- 
fortable competence  has  rewarded  his  industry. 


f,J  BSALOM  BROWN,  the  oldest   resident  of 
LUi    Decker   Township,    Richland   County,  re- 


sides on  section  1,  where  he  has  followed 
farming  for  many  years.  The  sketch  of 
this  pioneer  well  deserves  a  place  in  the  history  of 
his  adopted  county,  and  with  pleasure  we  present 
it  to  our  readers.  A  native  of  Tennessee,  he  was 
born  in  Franklin  County  on  the  27th  of  August, 
1822.  His  father.  John  Brown,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Tennes- 
see, where  he  met  and  married  Phoebe  McCoy,  a 
lady  of  Scotch  descent.  He  participated  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  served  under  Gen.  Jackson  at 
the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  His  life  work  was  that 
of  farming.  In  March,  1828,  he  emigrated  to  Ed- 
wards County,  111.,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and 


in  1830  came  to  Richland  County,  although  it 
was  then  a  part  of  Clay  County.  From  the 
Government  he  entered  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  the  edge  of  Fox  Prairie,  where  he 
lived  until  August,  1843,  when,  thinking  the 
country  was  too  thickly  settled,  he  went  to  Mis- 
souri to  look  for  another  location.  He  never 
returned,  and  it  is  thought  that  he  was  killed  by 
the  Indians.  His  wife  died  on  Christmas  Day  of 
1874,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

The  children  of  the  Brown  family  were  as  fol- 
lows: David  M.,  who  died  in  Kentucky  in  1845; 
Lucinda,  who  died  in  November,  1864;  Absalom 
of  this  sketch;  Jo,  a  farmer  of  Decker  Township, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
James  M.,  who  occupies  the  old  homestead;  Je- 
mima, who  is  the  widow  of  Isaac  Anderson,  and 
lives  near  the  old  homestead;  and  Rachel  M.,  who 
was  born  in  this  county  in  1830,  is  the  widow  of 
Jackson  Shelby,  and  now  resides  in  Edwards 
County. 

Absalom  Brown  spent  the  first  nine  years  of  his 
life  in  his  native  State,  and  then  came  to  Illinois. 
He  was  early  inured  to  the  hard  labor  of  develop- 
ing a  new  farm.  He  made  a  wooden  mould-board 
for  the  plow,  and  did  other  work  common  to  the 
frontier.  The  nearest  mills  were  at  the  Big  Wa- 
bash,  and  there  were  only  three  settlers  living  on 
the  prairie.  Wild  deer  roamed  around  at  will, 
and  he  has  hunted  on  the  site  of  Olney.  Amid 
such  surroundings,  engaged  in  the  hard  labor  of 
clearing  and  developing  land,  Mr.  Brown  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  remained 
at  home  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age, 
aiding  his  mother  in  the  care  of  the  family. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1849,  in  Decker  Town- 
seip,  Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucinda  Smith,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Fryman)  Smith. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
the  farm  which  is  still  their  home,  although  it  then 
comprised  only  forty  acres,  and  to  its  cultivation 
Mr.  Brown  has  since  devoted  his  energies  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  short  periods.  In  1859,  he 
went  to  Pike's  Peak,  making  the  journey  with  ox- 
teams.  In  1879,  and  again  in  1884,  he  went  to 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


southwest  Missouri  for  his  health.  He  now  owns 
ninety-five  acres  of  land  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, and  the  place  with  all  its  improvements 
is  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise,  for 
it  has  all  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren: Mary  M.,  wife  of  Merrill  Klingensmith,  of 
Decker  Township;  Isabel,  who  became  the  wife  of 
John  Smith,  and  died  leaving  three  children,  who 
now  live  with  their  grandparents;  Joseph  F.,  a 
hunter  and  fisher  in  Arkansas;  Louisa,  Mrs.  French, 
of  Jacksonville,  111.;  Sarah,  who  died  in  Texas; 
Susan,  now  in  Idaho;  John,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; and  Luella,  in  Salt  Lake  City.  The  chil- 
dren were  all  born  and  reared  on  the  home'  farm 
and  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  Brown  is  an  active  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  his  wife  belongs 
to  the  New  Light  Baptist  Church.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  James  K.  Polk,  and  has  since  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Democracy.  He  served  one  term 
as  Constable,  and  for  nine  years  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  duties  of  citizenship  he 
has  ever  faithfully  discharged,  and  has  ever  borne 
his  part  in  the  work  of  upbuilding  and  developing 
the  county  which  has  so  long  been  his  home.  Few 
in  the  county  have  longer  resided  within  its 
borders  than  our  subject,  who  has  been  identified 
with  its  history  since  the  days  of  its  early  infancy. 


^ILLIAM  B.  JOHNSON,  who  is  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Wynoose,  is  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  He  was  born  in  Leb- 
anon, Warren  County,  Ohio,  February  26,  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  M.  H.  Johnson,  long  a  resident  of 
Noble,  Richland  County.  His  father  was  also  born 
in  Ohio.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade,  but 
later  in  life  followed  farming.  In  the  State  of  his 
nativity  he  married  Elizabeth  Compton,  and  after 
her  death  wedded  Mary  Leffler,  who  was  born  in 
New  Jersey.  In  Warren  County,  Ohio,  he  began 
farming,  but  in  1863  removed  to  Richland  County, 


locating  on  a  farm  north  of  Noble.  He  engaged 
in  hotel-keeping  and  merchandising  in  Noble  for 
a  number  of  years,  but  in  1892  went  to  Wayne 
County,  where  he  is  now  living  at  the  age  of 
sevent3'-two  years.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Whig, 
but  since  its  organization  has  been  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a 
Dniversalist. 

In  the  Johnson  family  were  nine  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  living.  Our  subject  spent  his  boy- 
hood with  his  parents,  being  reared  to  manhood 
on  a  farm  and  acquiring  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  He  first  came  to  Illinois  in  the  autumn 
of  1862,  but  returned  to  Ohio,  and  on  the  27th  of 
January,  1863,  enlisted  in  the  Fifty-ninth  Ohio 
Infantry.  He  ran  away  from  home  to  enter  the 
service,  for  he  was  then  a  lad  of  only  sixteen  years. 
He  was  assigned  to  Company  A,  and  went  to  the 
battle-ground  of  Stone  River.  He  joined  his  reg- 
iment at  Strawberry  Plains  and  then  started  on  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  during  which  he  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Resaca  and  Rock}'  Face  Ridge.  At 
New  Hope  Church,  near  Dallas,  May  27,  1864,  he 
was  wounded,  his  left  ear  being  shot  off  and  his 
head  injured.  He  was  then  sent  to  the  hospital  in 
New  Albany,  Ind.,  and  later  went  home  on  a  fur- 
lough. Subsequently,  lie  returned  to  his  regiment 
in  Tultahoma,  Tenn.,  where  the  regiment  was 
disbanded  except  Companies  I  and  K,  when  Mr. 
Johnson  was  transferred  to  Company  I.  He  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Nashville  and  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro,  and  received  his  discharge  at  Louis- 
ville, July  19, 1865,  being  mustered  out  as  Sergeant. 

Returning  to  Noble,  Mr.  Johnson  was  married 
November  15,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  B.  Newcomer,  a 
native  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  Her  parents, 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Hershey)  Newcomer,  were 
originally  from  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  1865.  He  then  located  on  a  farm  near  Franconia, 
and  has  lived  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  but 
for  fourteen  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Decker 
Township.  In  1889  he  went  to  Wj'noose  and 
bought  out  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  and  is 
now  doing  business  along  that  line  and  enjoys  a 
good  trade.  He  has  also  served  as  Postmaster  of 
Wynoose,  and  owns  a  good  farm,  which  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  bis  son.  James  H.,  the  eldest  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


231 


family,  is  foreman  in  the  postal  telegraph  business; 
William  F.  operates  a  farm;  Mrs.  Hattie  Garland 
is  living  in  Greenville,  Bond  County;  and  the 
younger  members  of  the  family,  Kate,  Lillie,  Pearl 
and  Bertha,  are  still  at  home. 

Although  he  had  not  then  attained  his  majority, 
Mr.  Johnson  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Lincoln  in  1864.  and  has  since  been  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  the  Republican  party.  He  manifests 
considerable  interest  in  political  affairs  and  does 
all  in  his  power  for  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of 
bis  party.  He  has  served  as  Assessor  and  Com- 
missioner of  Highways,  discharging  his  duties  with 
promptness  and  fidelity.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  Wynoose  Post  No.  704,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  Quartermaster,  and  for  several  years 
was  connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity  of 
Noble.  Mr.  Johnson  has  a  wide  acquaintance  in 
Richland  County  and  is  a  highly-respected  man. 
In  his  business  dealings  he  has  been  quite  success- 
ful, and  as  a  result  of  his  well-directed  efforts  hus 
gained  a  comfortable  competence. 


().  GINTER,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  late  war  and  a  dealer  in  flour,  feed 
and  provisions  of  Mason,  is  a  well-known 
and  influential  citizen  of  Effingham  County.  A 
native  of  Kentucky,  lie  was  born  in  Bath  County, 
near  Owingsville,  May  2,  1835.  He  comes  of  a 
family  that  was  founded  in  America  during  Col- 
onial days.  His  grandfather,  Daniel  Ginter,  lived 
for  a  number  of  years  in  the  Keystone  State,  but 
at  an  early  day  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  an  advanced  age.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a 
number  of  years  and  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
three-score  and  ten.  Their  son,  John  Ginter,  be- 
came the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  but  with  his  family  removed  to 
Kentucky  and  there  married  Polly  Oakley,  a  na- 
tive of  that  State  and  a  daughter  of  Christopher 
Oakley,  a  Kentucky  farmer,  who  there  spent  his 


entire  life.  Mr.  Oakley  in  the  early  days  lived  in 
a  log  cabin,  in  which  port-holes  were  made  in  order 
to  protect  himself  and  family  from  the  Indians. 

John  Ginter  was  forge  man  in  the  iron  works  of 
Bath  County,  Ky.,  and  to  that  work  devoted  his 
energies  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  ]884, 
at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  He  was  murdered 
for  telling  a  friend  that  a  certain  man  intended  to 
kill  him.  By  thus  informing  his  friend  he  lost  his 
own  life.  His  wife  died  the  following  year.  They 
had  the  following  children:  Henry,  Samuel,  Gid- 
eon, William  O.,  John,  Nannie,  Amelia  and  Maria; 
but  only  Samuel,  William  and  Amelia  are  now 
living.  The  last-named  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Bran- 
denburg, of  Kentucky. 

William  O.  Ginter  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
early  age  of  ten  years.  He  was  then  taken  to  the 
home  of  Congressman  John  Mason,  with  whom  he 
lived  several  years,  when  he  went  to  live  with 
James  Ewing,  who  had  been  a  captain  in  the 
Mexican  War.  About  a  year  afterward,  however, 
lie  returned  to  Mr.  Mason,  who  sent  him  to  school 
one  winter  and  then  apprenticed  him  to  a  carpen- 
ter. He  served  a  three-years  term  at  that  trade 
and  in  compensation  for  his  services  received  $50 
the  first  year,  $72  the  next,  and  $150  for  the  third. 
When  he  had  mastered  the  business,  Mr.  Ginter 
left  Kentucky,  being  then  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  came  to  Mason.  This  was  in  1855. 
Since  that  time  he  has  made  his  home  continu- 
ously in  Effingham  County  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  months  spent  at  Pike's  Peak,  where  he  went 
in  the  spring  of  1859  in  a  party  of  thirteen,  which 
started  from  Omaha  by  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Smoky  Hill  route.  Only  five  of  the  party 
lived  to  arrive  at  Pike's  Peak.  They  experienced 
many  hardships,  suffering  more  than  at  any  time 
in  the  army.  For  three  days  and  nights  they  had 
neither  food  nor  drink.  On  arriving  he  found 
everything  in  a  state  of  lawlessness  and  disorder, 
there  being  no  law  except  lynch  law.  While  there 
he  paid  as  high  as  $1  per  pound  for  flour.  He 
spent  two  months  there  and  then  returned  to  Ma- 
son. 

Mr.  Ginter  watched  with  interest  the  progress 
of  events  in  the  South  prior  to  the  breaking  out 
of  the  late  war,  and  when  hostilities  began  he  was 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


among  the  first  to  respond  to  the  President's  call 
for  troops.  He  entered  the  three-months  service 
and  afterward  re-enlisted,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  G,  Eleventh  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  received 
a  slight  wound,  but  otherwise  escaped  uninjured. 
His  brother  John,  who  was  also  one  of  the  "boys  in 
blue,"  was  shot  down  by  his  side  in  the  battle  of 
Ft.  Donelson  and  was  captured  by  the  rebels,  but 
was  afterward  recaptured  by  his  brother  William. 
His  wound  ended  his  life  and  he  was  laid  in  a  sol- 
dier's grave  in  Paducah,  Ky.  Mr.  Ginter  of  this 
sketch  participated  in  a  number  of  important  en- 
gagements, including  the  battles  of  Ft.  Donelson, 
Vicksburg,  Shiloh,  Yazoo  City,  Jackson  and  many 
others.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  but 
his  bravery  and  meritorious  conduct  won  him  pro- 
motion and  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant. 

During  the  war,  Mr.  Ginter  was  granted  a  fur- 
lough, in  1864,  and  returned  home.  During  his 
leave  of  absence  he  was  married  on  the  27th  of 
February  of  that  year  to  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Morphew, 
widow  of  James  Morphew  and  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Lavina  Robinson.  Her  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  but  removed  to  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  near 
Greencastle.  The  father  died  in  1846  and  the 
mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1891,  at  the 
very  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  Six 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ginter: 
John  H.,  Samuel  L.,  Nannie,  Marie,  Yuanna  and 
Ursula  O.  Mrs.  Ginter  also  had  one  son  by  her 
former  husband,  Leander  H.  Morphew,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  L.  Underwood,  of  Stuttgart,  Ark. 
John  Ginter  died  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years,  and  Samuel  died  in  1869,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen months. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Ginter  returned  to  Mason 
and  resumed  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  1868,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of 
twenty  acres  three  miles  north  of  the  village, 
where  the  family  resided  for  thirteen  years.  There 
in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  his  land  he 
also  followed  carpentering.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  returned  to  Mason  and  again 
worked  at  his  chosen  profession  until  compelled  to 


abandon  it  on  account  of  rheumatism,  in  the  spring 
of  1892.  He  then  purchased  the  flour,  feed  and 
provision  store  of  "Uncle"  Daniel  Sisson  and  is 
now  engaged  in  that  business. 

Mr.  Ginter  has  long  been  literally  connected 
with  the  upbuilding  of  this  community.  He  is  a 
carpenter  of  excellent  workmanship  and  he  had  a 
liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage.  He  is  now 
doing  a  good  business  in  the  line  of  his  present 
trade  and  well  deserves  the  support  of  the  general 
public.  In  politics  Mr.  Ginter  is  a  Republican,  and 
socially  is  a  member  of  Ransom  Post  No.  99,  G. 
A.  R.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  School  Director 
for  several  years,  and  the  cause  of  education  finds 
in  him  a  warm  friend.  Public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, he  always  gives  his  support  to  any  enter- 
prise calculated  to  prove  of  benefit  to  the  com- 
munity. He  was  a  faithful  soldier  to  his  country  in 
her  hour  of  peril,  and  is  alike  true  in  days  of  peace. 
He  is  a  representative  citizen  of  the  community, 
his  life  has  been  well  spent,  and  his  record  is  well 
deserving  of  a  place  in  this  volume. 


EORGE  HEINDSELMAN,  one  of  tho  hon- 
ored  pioneers  of  Richland  County,  is  en- 
gaged  in  farming  on  section  6,  Olney  Town- 
ship. His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  local- 
ity, for  he  was  born  about  four  miles  south  of  his 
present  place  of  residence,  on  the  18th  of  February, 
1841.  His  parents,  Caleb  and  Catherine  (Dray- 
ler)  Heindselman,  came  from  Germany,  and  in  the 
Fatherland  were  married.  In  1830  they  bade 
adieu  to  their  old  home  and  crossed  the  briny 
deep,  locating  first  upon  a  farm  in  Ohio.  After 
coming  to  this  country  the  family  circle  was  in- 
creased by  the  birth  of  seven  children,  George  be- 
ing the  seventh  in  order  of  birth. 

In  1840,  Caleb  Heindselman  came  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Richland  County,  111.,  and  entered  land  near 
the  cit3'  of  Calhoun,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent 
their  remaining  days.  His  death  occurred  in  1875, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  and  his  wife  died 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


233 


in  1876,  having  reached  the  age  of  four-score 
years.  They  were  both  buried  in  a  German  ceme- 
tery, where  a  beautiful  monument  marks  their  last 
resting-place.  Only  four  of  their  children  are  now 
living:  Catherine,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Slyche- 
myer,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Caleb,  who  follows 
the  same  pursuit;  Margaret,  wife  of  II.  C.  Black, 
an  agriculturist  of  Richland  County;  and  George, 
of  this  sketch.  . 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  attaind  to  man's  estate,  and  at  an  early 
age  began  following  the  plow.  From  his  boyhood 
he  has  been  familiar  with  farm  labor.  In  August, 
1862,  however,  occurred  a  change  in  his  program. 
At  that  date  he  offered  his  services  to  the  Govern- 
ment and  enlisted  in  Company  G,  Ninety-eighth 
Illinois  Infantry,  serving  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  very  fortunate,  in  that  he  was  never 
wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  yet  he  participated  in 
a  number  of  hotly  contested  battles,  including  the 
engagements  at  Chickamauga,  Hartsville  and 
Selma. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  having  been  honorably 
discharged,  Mr.  Heindselman  returned  to  his  home, 
and  engaged  in  farming  with  his  father  for  about 
a  year,  lie  then  purchased  forty  acres  of  timber- 
land  and  hewed  down  the  trees  in  order  to  build 
a  log  cabin.  The  work  of  opening  up  a  farm  he 
continued  until  the  entire  tract  was  under  cultiva- 
tion. He  has  added  to  the  original  purchase  until 
he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres 
of  good  land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute. 
In  addition  to  his  beautiful  country  home,  there 
are  good  barns  and  other  necessary  outbuildings 
and  all  of  the  modern  improvements  and  equip- 
ments found  upon  a  model  farm. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1868,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Ileindselman  and  Sophia  Klopen- 
stein.  The  lady  was  born  February  2,  1850,  in 
Gallia,  Ohio,  and  has  become  the  mother  of  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  but  two  of 
the  daughters  died  in  infancy.  Those  still  living 
are:  William  Tell,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  John  R.,  who  follows  agricultural 
pursuits  during  the  summer  months,  and  engages 
in  teaching  school  during  the  winter  season;  Lillie 
C.,  wife  of  James  Kimmell,a  merchant  of  Calhoun, 


111.;  Homer  C.,  who  is  now  attending  the  Olney 
High  School;  George  and  Flora,  who  are  still  at 
home.  The  children  have  all  been  provided  with 
good  educational  privileges. 

Mr.  Heindselman  votes  with  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  never  sought  political  preferment, 
in  fact  has  steadily  refused  public  office.  He  never 
slights  his  duties  of  citizenship,  however,  and  is  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  man,  who  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  best  interest  of  the 
community  in  which  he  makes  his  home.  He  is 
straightforward  and  honorable  in  all  his  business 
dealings,  and  his  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond. 


?ILLIAM  J.  DOUGLAS,  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Mason,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  EfHngham  Coun- 
ty. He  was  born  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  near 
Rising  Sun,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1822.  His 
grandfather,  William  Douglas,  was  a  Maine  farmer 
and  on  emigrating  Westward  became  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  where  he  died  at 
the  age  of  sixty  years.  Andrew  Douglas,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  the  Pine  Tree  State, 
and  during  his  boyhood  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Indiana,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Greenly, 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
Greenly,  who  followed  farming  in  Switzerland 
County,  Ind.  He  reached  the  age  of  four-score 
years.  Five  children  were  born  unto  An  drew  and 
Susanna  Douglas,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 
Eliza  J.  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  M.  Scianton,  of 
Ohio  County,  Ind.;  Jeremiah  S.  is  now  deceased; 
George  W.  and  Thomas  F.  complete  the  family. 
The  parents  have  both  passed  away.  The  father 
long  since  died,  when  about  seventy-two  years  of 
age.  His  wife  survived  him  six  years,  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  Hardin  County,  111.,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight. 

William  J.  Douglas,  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord, spent  his  boyhood  days  quietly  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  received  his  education  in  a  log 


234 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


school  house,  to  which  he  had  to  walk  two  and  a- 
half  miles.  No  event  of  special  importance  oc- 
curred during  his  youth, but  after  he  had  attained 
to  man's  estate  he  was  married,  November  23,  1843, 
to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Read,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Margaret  (Dungan)  Read,  natives  of  Baltimore, 
Md.  Her  paternal  grandfather  was  a  Scotchman, 
but  in  early  life  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
and  for  many  years  lived  in  Baltimore,  where  his 
death  occurred  at  the  age  of  eighty.  His  wife  was 
of  German  descent.  Mrs.  Read  was  of  Irish  line- 
age. Her  father  followed  milling  and  farming 
near  Baltimore.  He  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier, 
and  rodea  horse  through  that  war  named  Loduski, 
which  was  a  great  pet.  Thomas  Dungan,  a  brother 
of  Mrs.  Read,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  afterward  married  and  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  reared  a  large  family  and  became  a  very 
prominent,  influential  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zen. 

Six  children  have  been  born  unto  them,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Isaac  R.,  married  Corelda  Monroe, 
and,  with  his  wife  and  four  children,  William  J., 
Myer  A.,  Curtis  and  Agnes  A.,  resides  on  the  old 
home  farm  in  Indiana.  Andrew  T.  has  been 
twice  married.  He  wedded  Missouri  A.  Lowstutter, 
who  died  leaving  a  son,  Samuel  Charles.  His 
second  wife  was  Kittle  Paugh.  They  reside  on  a 
farm  just  east  of  Mason  and  have  one  son,  William 
E.  Mary  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Bu- 
chanan, who  is  engaged  in  the  commission  business 
in  Cairo,  111.  They  have  three  sons:  Arthur  D., 
William  J.  and  Pleasant.  Charles  W.,  who  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Mary  A.  Billingsley,  resides 
with  his  wife  and  baby  on  a  portion  of  the  old 
homestead  in  Indiana.  Adelia  J.  is  the  wife  of 
David  S.  Cofield,  a  farmer  residing  near  Arcola, 
111.,  by  whom  she  has  two  children,  Jesse  D.  and 
Ernest.  Lucian  M.,  who  follows  farming  north  of 
Mason,  married  Eva  Dallas  and  their  union  lias  been 
blessed  by  four  children:  Byron,  Claudus,  Adelia 
L.  and  Lola  A. 

In  March,  1874,  Mr.  Douglas  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  wife  and  youngest  son,  the  other  children 
all  having  married  and  gone  to  homes  of  their 
own.  He  located  in  Efflngham  County  on  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres,  three  quarters  of 


a  mile  north  of  the  village  of  Mason,  and  there 
resided  four  years,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  in  Union  Town- 
ship. That  land  he  now  rents.  He  also  purchased 
sixteen  and  one-half  acres  within  the  corporate 
limits  of  Mason.  His  landed  possessions  now  ag- 
gregate four  hundred  acres,  three  hundred  and 
twenty  in  Mason  and  Union  Townships  and  the 
remaining  eighty  acres  in  Indiana.  Mr.  Douglas 
also  owns  a  pleasant  home  property  in  the  village, 
and  he  and  his  son  have  a  good  hay  warehouse 
and  press  considerable  hay. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Douglas  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  signal  success.  His  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Our  subject  is 
connected  with  no  religious  denomination  but  is  a 
man  of  strict  integrity,  whose  word  is  as  good  as 
his  bond.  His  honorable  and  well-spent  life  has 
won  him  the  high  respect  of  all  with  whom  busi- 
ness or  social  relations  have  brought  him  in  con- 
tact. 


ON.  JAMES  C.  ALLEN,  senior  member  of 
,  the  law  firm  of  Allen  &  Fritchey,  of  Olney, 
is  an  early  settler  and  prominent  citizen  of 

jj)j  Illinois.  Judge  Allen  is  a  native  of  Shelby 
County,  Ky.,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  29th 
of  January,  1822.  He  is  the  seventh  in  a  family 
of  ten  children  born  unto  Benjamin  and  Margaret 
(Youel)  Allen.  His  parents,  who  were  natives  of 
Rockbridge  County,  Va.,  were  married  in  the  State 
of  their  nativity,  and  in  1801  emigrated  to  Shelby 
County,  Ky.,  then  a  sparsely  settled  region.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  the 
mother  of  Scotch,  each  a  representative  of  a  sturdy 
race,  possessing  marked  and  strong  characteristics, 
both  mentally  and  physically.  The  Scotch-Irish 
people  of  America  have  by  their  energy,  intelli- 
gence, enterprise  and  frugality  won  prominence 
and  respect  wherever  they  are  found. 

Benjamin  Allen  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.     In 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


235 


early  life  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  sic- 
kles, and  later  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 
He  remained  in  Kentucky  until  1830,  when  with 
his  family  he  removed  to  Parke  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  and  his  estimable  wife  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  days.  They  were  industrious,  upright  peo- 
ple and  worthy  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  which  Mr.  Allen  served  thirty  years  as 
Elder.  His  death  occurred  in  1847,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight.  His  wife  died  in  1833,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  on  his  father's  farm  in  a  new  country,  where 
advantages  of  education  were  meagre.  His  pri- 
mary education  was  received  in  the  traditional  log 
schoolhouse  of  pioneer  times,  after  which  he  at- 
tended the  High  School  in  Rockville,  Ind.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Howard  &  Wright,  of  Rock- 
ville, and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  August,  1843, 
being  then  only  a  few  months  past  his  majority.  In 
December,  following,  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  Sullivan,  Ind.,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  fall  of  1845,  when  he  was  elected 
Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  Seventh  Judicial 
Circuit  of  Indiana,  which  position  he  filled  for  two 
years. 

In  the  spring  of  1847,  Judge  Allen  removed  to 
Palestine,  Crawford  County,  111.,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  about  twenty-nine  consecutive  years. 
An  earnest  Democrat  in  political  faith,  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  Crawford  and  Jasper  Counties 
in  the  Lower  House  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  for 
the  years  of  1850  and  1851.  In  1852,  he  was 
elected  to  Congress  from  the  Seventh  Congressional 
District  of  Illinois,  and  was  re-elected  in  1854.  In 
1858,  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives and  served  through  the  Thirty-fifth 
Congress.  In  1860,  he  was  the  Democratic  candi- 
date for  Governor  of  Illinois,  but  was  defeated  by 
Richard  Yates,  the  candidate  of  the  then  rising 
Republican  party.  The  following  year  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  Circuit, 
which  position  he  filled  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when 
lie  was  made  Congressman-at-Large  for  the  State. 
In  1861,  Gov.  Yates  tendered  him  the  command  of 
the  Twenty-First  Illinois'Infantry, and  the  follow- 


ing year  President  Lincoln  offered  him  the  com- 
mand of  a  brigade,  but  having  no  military  taste  or 
training,  he  declined  both  offers.  In  1870,  Judge 
Allen  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  Illinois,  of  which  body  he  proved  a 
valuable  and  useful  member.  In  1873,  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  Second  Judicial  Court,  and 
in  1874  was  appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court  to 
the  Appellate  Bench  for  the  Fourth  District  of  Il- 
linois, where  he  served  until  the  spring  of  1879, 
when  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Olney,  to  which  place  he  had  removed  in  that 
year.  Soon  after  coming  to  Olney,  Judge  Allen 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Joseph  Longenecker, 
then  a  rising  young  lawyer,  now  the  famous  Pros- 
ecuting Attorney  for  Chicago,  which  connection 
was  continued  until  Mr.  Longenecker  removed  to 
Chicago.  In  1881,  the  existing  partnership  with 
Hon.  Theodore  A.  Fritchey  was  formed. 

Judge  Allen  has  been  twice  married;  first  on  the 
22d  of  January,  1845,  to  Miss  Ellen,  the  young- 
est daughter  of  Hon.  Joseph  Kitchell,  by  whom  he 
had  three  children,  all  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Allen 
died  in 'May,  1852.  On  the  12th  of  June,  1856, 
in  Palestine,  111.,  the  Judge  married  Miss  Julia  A. 
Kitchell,  his  present  wife.  She  was  born  in  Pales- 
tine, 111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  H.  and  Nancy 
(Gill)  Kitchell.  Seven  children  were  born  of  the 
latter  marriage,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Harry  K., 
the  eldest,  is  now  Court  Reporter,  and  resides  in 
Olney.  Fanny  is  the  wife  of  John  Ratcliff,  Assist- 
ant Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Olney. 
The  younger  members  are  Carrie,  James  II.,  Fred 
W.,  William  Y.  and  Maggie.  James  is  employed 
by  the  St.  Louis  Transfer  Company.  Fred  holds 
a  position  under  the  State  Government  at  Spring- 
field, 111.;  and  William  is  engaged  in  farming  near 
Oluey. 

Judge  Allen  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  his  political  views,  he 
has  alwa3's  been  a  stanch  Democrat,  and  has  done 
substantial  service  as  a  public  speaker  in  support 
of  his  party,  and  also  in  conventions.  During  the 
late  war,  he  was  in  perfect  accord  with  the  patri- 
otic sentiments  uttered  by  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
the  great  leader  of  his  party  at  the  critical  time  of 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  That  the  Judge  has 


236 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


won  prominence  in  professional  and  political  life 
is  well  indicated  by  the  facts  herein  given.  That 
lie  has  deserved  his  constant  promotion  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  no  sooner  did  he  vacate  one  office, 
than  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  another.  He  is 
known  to  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  coun- 
try, and  is  recognized  as  a  gentleman  of  merit, 
possessing  more  than  ordinary  ability. 


VAVID  HENRY  HOLLO  WAY,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  and  real-estate  busi- 
ness in  Mason,  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Effingham  County,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  nearly  forty  years.  He  has 
therefore  been  an  eye-witness  of  much  of  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  county,  and  in  all 
possible  ways  he  has  aided  in  its  advancement. 
He  was  born  near  Collinsville,  Madison  County, 
111.,  July  21,  1847,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  six  daughters  whose  parents  were 
Thomas  Jefferson  and  Rebecca  (Hoskins)  Hollo- 
way,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Tennessee. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  James 
Holloway,  was  a  Virginian  by  birth,  as  was  his 
wife.  From  that  State  he  removed  to  Tennessee, 
where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  Thomas  Jeff- 
erson Holloway  became  a  farmer  of  Tennessee 
and  removed  thence  at  an  early  day  to  Indiana, 
where  he  spent  about  four  years.  In  the  year  1840 
he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Madison  Count}',  where  his  death  occurred  during 
the  infancy  of  our  subject.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  1872,  and  died  in  Lucas  Township, 
Effingham  County,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years.  For  several  years  after  her  husband's 
death  she  continued  to  reside  in  Madison  County, 
but  in  1855  went  with  her  children  to  Effingham 
County.  The  family  there  made  their  home  upon 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  for  many 
years.  Only  three  of  the  twelve  children  are  now 
living:  Thomas  Jefferson,  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  David 
S.  Bates,  of  Elliottstown,  111.,  and  David  H. 


The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  early  inured  to 
the  hard  labors  of  farm  life.  The  only  educational 
privileges  which  he  received  were  those  afforded 
by  the  common  schools.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  he  entered  the  service  of  his  country 
as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Fifty- fourth  Illinois 
Infantry.  He  remained  in  the  service  for  about  a 
year,  but  was  then  honorably  discharged  on 
account  of  illness.  After  his  return  home  he  be- 
gan teaching,  and  followed  that  profession  until 
1868.  In  August  of  that  year  he  embarked  in 
mercantile  pursuits  in  Mason,  opening  a  drug 
store,  which  he  carried  on  for  five  years.  In  1870, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Pulliam,  and 
they  purchased  a  general  store,  which  they  oper- 
ated until  1875,  when  Mr.  Holloway 's  partner 
died.  He  then  sold  out  the  business.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  again  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dising at  the  old  stand,  and  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  spent  in  Clifton,  111.,  he  continued  in 
that  line  of  trade  until  April,  1891,  when  he  sold 
out  his  stock  to  Leith  Brothers,  and,  forming  a 
partnership  with  J.  C.  Leith,  opened  a  hardware 
store.  This  connection  was  continued  until  the 
following  October,  when  Mr.  Holloway  bought 
out  his  partner's  interest.  Subsequently  he  traded 
his  hardware  stock  for  a  farm  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  north  of  the  village  of  Mason,  containing 
one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres  of  valuable 
land.  This  farm  he  still  owns,  and  under  his 
management  it  is  operated.  He  is  also  engaged 
in  the  real-estate  and  insurance  business,  and  has 
worked  up  a  good  trade  in  this  line. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Holloway  wed- 
ded Miss  Emma  Leith,  daughter  of  David  and 
Amanda  (Wilson)  Leith,  who  were  natives  of 
Ohio,  but  at  the  time  of  their  daughter's  marriage 
resided  in  Mason  Township.  Four  children  have 
been  bom  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway,  Herald 
H.,  Charles  D., Stella  B.  and  Mabel,and  the  family 
circle  yet  remains  unbroken.  Their  home  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality,  and  its  doors  are  ever  open 
for  the  reception  of  the  many  friends  of  the  fam- 

iiy- 

Mr.  Holloway  takes  a  considerable  interest  in 
civic  societies.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


237 


he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star. 
He  served  as  High  Priest  in  the  Chapter  for  one 
year,  was  one  year  Worshipful  Master  in  the  Blue 
Lodge,  and  was  Patron  of  the  Eastern  Star  Lodge 
for  two  years.  He  also  belongs  to  Cedar  Lodge 
No.  211, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  to  Ransom  Post  No.  99, 
G.  A.  R.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  latter 
organization  and  its  first  Adjutant.  At  present 
he  is  filling  the  oflice  of  Junior  Vice-Commander 
of  the  post.  In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hollo- 
way  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  served  as  Super- 
visor of  Mason  Township  in  1880,  has  since  been 
a  member  of  the  Village  Board,  and  was  its  Presi- 
dent for  four  years.  He  always  discharges  his 
public  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity,  and 
fills  the  offices  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  Although  a  com- 
paratively young  man,  Mr.  Holloway  is  really  one 
of  the  old  settlers  of  Effingham  County,  for  he 
has  long  resided  within  its  borders,  and  lias  been 
prominently  connected  with  its  development  and 
growth. 


^ETER  M.  JAMISON,  who  owns  and  operates 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  on  section  18, 
Wade  Township  Jasper  County,  is  a  native 
of  Ohio.  He  was  born  June  1,  1842,  in 
Butler  County,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
father,  Peter  Jamison,  was  born  in  Scotland,  in 
1809,  and  when  a  young  man  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America.  He  settled  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
in  1827,  and  there  married  Lucinda  Wray,  also  of 
Scotcli  birth,  who  died  when  our  subject  was  a 
child.  Peter  Jamison,  Sr.,  was  a  farmer,  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  in  the  Buckeye  State  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1856  he  removed  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  Montgomery  County,  where  he  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  for  five  years,  and  then 
bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Monroe 
County,  Ind.  There  he  spent  his  remaining  days, 
his  death  occurring  in  1883. 


Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  The  sister, 
Elizabeth,  is  now  deceased.  The  brother,  Joseph  L., 
is  in  business  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.  Peter  grew 
to  manhood  in  Montgomery  County,  Ind.  During 
his  boyhood  he  was  inured  to  the  labors  of  farm 
life.  His  school  privileges  were  quite  limited, 
but  by  experience,  reading  and  observation  dur- 
ing his  later  years  he  has  made  himself  a  well-in- 
formed man.  He  began  life  for  himself  by  work- 
ing as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  In  1862  he  was 
employed  by  the  Government  in  Nashville,  Tenn., 
breaking  teams.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  and  spent  the  two  suc- 
ceeding years  of  his  life  upon  a  farm.  In  January, 
1865,  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  B,  Seventh  Indiana  Infantry. 
He  joined  the  regiment  at  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  Ala., 
and  remained  in  the  service  until  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  receiving  his  discharge  at  Indianapolis 
in  September,  1865.  He  was  thrown  from  his 
horse  and  in  this  way  sustained  permanent  injury. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  ser- 
vices, Mr.  Jamison  returned  to  his  home  in  Mont- 
gomery County,  and  the  next  year  turned  his  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits,  to  which  he  has 
since  devoted  his  energies.  On  the  20th  of  June, 
1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia 
F.  Phillips,  a  native  of  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind., 
and  a  daughter  of  Charles  Phillips.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  of  their  union,  Walter, 
Myrtie  and  Florence  E.,  all  of  wjiom  are  now  at- 
tending school. 

In  the  year  1884,  Mr.  Jamison  and  his  family 
arrived  in  Illinois.  Having  purchased  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides,  he  removed  hither  in 
1886,  and  began  its  further  development.  As  be- 
fore stated,  it  comprises  one  hundred  acres  of  val- 
uable land,  and  is  improved  with  a  good  residence, 
substantial  barns,  a  smokehouse,  and  all  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm.  There  is  a  good  orchard, 
and  the  fields  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. The  neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of  the 
place  well  indicates  the  enterprise  and  energy  of 
the  owner. 

Since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote,  Mr. 
Jamison  has  been  a  supporter  of  the  Democracy, 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  Socially  he 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Array  Post  of  Newton,  and 
himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Jamison  is  esteemed  as  an  upright 
citizen,  and  is  a  self-made  man,  who  by  his  own 
industry  and  good  management  has  accumulated 
a  good  home  and  a  valuable  farm,  and  is  to-day 
numbered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  Wade 
Township. 


;ILLIAM  JOHNSON,  who  follows  farming 
on  section  15,  Wade  Township,  well  de- 
serves mention  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Jasper  County,  where  he  has  resided  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  During  all  these 
years  he  has  been  identified  with  its  agricultural 
interests  and  now  owns  and  operates  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  pleasantly  and  con- 
veniently situated  three  miles  from  Newton. 

Mr.  Johnson  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity.  He  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  April 
5,  1834,  and  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  seven  daughters,  whose  parents  were  Samuel 
and  Catherine  (Ladd)  Johnson.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  and  when  a  lad  of  five 
years  was  brought  by  his  father,  William  Johnson, 
to  Indiana.  The  Johnson  family  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent  and  was  founded  in  North  Carolina 
at  a  very  early  day.  William  Johnson,  Sr.,  located 
in  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  there  reared  his  family.  Af- 
ter attaining  to  mature  years,  Samuel  Johnson 
married  Miss  Ladd,  a  native  of  Wayne  County, 
and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Ladd,  who  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  and  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  that  business 
in  Wayne  County  throughout  his  entire  life.  He 
died  in  1869,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him  a 
number  of  years,  passed  away  in  August,  1891,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years.  Both  were 
buried  in  Mt.  Zion  Cemetery,  in  Williamsburg, 


where  a  monument  marks  their  last  resting-place. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  a  man  of  prominence  in  his  com- 
munity. He  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
was  also  Postmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
held  membership  with  the  United  Brethren  Church 
and  served  as  one  of  its  officers.  Of  his  family, 
five  daughters  and  our  subject  are  yet  living. 

William  Johnson  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county 
of  his  birth,  spending  his  boyhood  days  under  the 
parental  roof.  His  educational  privileges  were 
quite  good  for  that  day.  Prompted  by  patriotic 
impulses  he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for 
troops,  and  in  August,  1862,  became  a  member  of 
the  Sixty-ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  enlisted  as 
a  private  of  Company  E,  but  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Sergeant.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Richmond  (Ky.),  Chickasaw  Bayou  and  Arkan- 
sas Post.  On  the  30th  of  August,  1862,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Richmond,  Ky.,  and  held  in  camp 
by  rebel  guaids  for  a  few  days.  He  was  then  pa- 
roled, and  two  and  a-half  months  later  was  ex- 
changed. In  April,  1863,  he  was  discharged  on 
account  of  physical  disability. 

On  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Johnson  returned 
to  his  home  in  Indiana,  and  when  he  had  recov- 
ered his  health  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall 
of  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  and  lo- 
cated upon  the  farm  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  It  was  then  only  partially  improved,  but 
he  soon  placed  the  entire  amount  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  erected  a  neat  and  substan- 
tial residence  and  built  good  barns  and  all  other 
necessary  outbuildings.  He  has  a  good  bearing 
orchard,  and  in  fact,  the  Johnson  homestead  is 
considered  one  of  the  finest  and  most  highly  im- 
proved farms  of  this  locality. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1859,  in  Wayne  County, 
Ind.,  Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Jane  Beverlin,  a  native  of  that  county,  and 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Beverlin.  They  have  four 
children  yet  living:  Edgar,  who  is  married  and 
resides  upon  a  farm  in  Wade  Township;  Leander, 
who  is  also  married  ami  follows  farming  in  this 
township;  Oscar,  who  aids  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  old  home;  and  Lizzie,  who  completes 
the  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  also  lost  their 
first-born,  a  son,  who  died  in  childhood. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


239 


Our  subject  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Jasper 
County.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  been 
identified  with  its  growth  and  upbuilding,  and  has 
aided  materially  in  its  development  and  progress. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen  and 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  The  cause 
of  education  has  ever  found  in  him  a  warm  friend, 
and  he  has  faithfully  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  for  about  twenty  years.  He  has  been 
officially  connected  with  the  County  Fair  Associa- 
tion since  its  organization  and  for  four  years  was 
its  president.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  hav- 
ing been  a  stalwart  supporter  of  that  party  since 
its  formation.  lie  voted  for  its  first  Presidential 
candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  and  has  supported 
each  Presidential  nominee  since  that  time.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  the 
Grand  Army  Post.  In  all  the  relations  of  life, 
Mr.  Johnson  has  been  honorable  and  upright,  and 
his  many  excellencies  of  character  have  won  him  a 
well-merited  esteem. 


ilLLIAM  L.  WAKEFIELD,  who  is  one 
of  the  representative  farmers  of  Jasper 
County,  now  resides  on  section  26,  Small- 
wood  Township,  and  the  record  of  his  life  work  is 
as  follows:  He  was  born  on  the  9th  of  August, 
1846,  in  Clay  County,  Ind.,  and  on  the  paternal 
side  is  of  German  and  Irish  extraction.  His  father, 
Charles  McCoy  Wakefield,  was  born  in  the  Hoosier 
State  in '1823,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm,  but  after  attaining  his  majority,  he  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  Bowling  Green,  Clay  County. 
In  an  early  day,  however,  he  came  West,  locating 
in  what  is  now  known  as  the  village  of  Wakefield, 
Richland  County,  111.  Purchasing  a  stock  of  dry 
goods,  he  established  the  first  store  in  that  place. 
This  was  in  1856.  There  he  remained  for  four 
years,  when,  in  1860,  he  came  to  Jasper  County, 
and  purchased  land  in  Snaallwood  Township,  where 


he  carried  on  farming  until  his  death.  He  served 
as  Deputy  Provost  Marshal  for  this  district  for 
about  three  years.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Catherine  Hickson,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  is  yet  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  this 
county.  Her  parents  were  both  born  in  Germany. 
Mr.  Wakefield  died  December  5,  1888. 

In  the  family  of  this  worthy  couple  were  five 
children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  whom 
William  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  At  the 
age  of  ten  years,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents, and  since  1860  has  been  a  permanent  resi- 
dent of  Jasper  County.  In  the  common  schools, 
he  acquired  a  good  English  education  and  in  his 
parents'  home  he  became  familiar  with  farming  in 
all  its  details,  for  from  an  early  age  he  aided  in 
the  cultivation  of  his  father's  land.  When  the 
war  broke  out  he  joined  the  brave  boys  in  blue, 
enlisting  November  20, 1861,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany F,  Forty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  served 
until  December  22,  1863,  when  he  was  enrolled  as 
a  veteran  to  serve  for  three  years,  or  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1866,  after 
a  long  and  faithful  service,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. During  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  he  was 
taken  prisoner  while  on  picket  duty,  but  after  two 
days  and  three  nights  of  imprisonment  he  suc- 
ceeded in  making  his  escape.  Mr.  Wakefield  was 
only  fifteen  years  of  age  when  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice— a  mere  boy — but  he  took  part  in  all  the  en- 
gagements of  his  company,  and  his  loyalty  and 
bravery  equaled  that  of  the  men  of  mature  years. 

When  mustered  out,  our  subject  returned  to  his 
home  in  Jasper  County,  and  once  more  devoted 
his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits.  On  the  15th  of 
March,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Clara  Manning,  who  was  born  September  21,  1856, 
in  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  Jane  (Hughes)  Manning,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Indiana,  and  the  latter  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Her  parents  are  now  residents  of  Jasper 
County.  Seven  children  grace  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  namely:  Frank,  born  June 
24,  1873;  Carrie,  March  17,  1878;  Ticha,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1880;  Bertha,  June  19,  1883;  Foster,  March 
10,  1885;  Ollie,  May  7,  1888;  and  Willie,  May  18, 
1890. 


240 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Throughout  his  entire  life,  Mr.  Wakefield  has 
engaged  in  farming,  and  in  his  business  interests 
he  has  met  with  fair  success.  He  now  owns  an  ex- 
cellent farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich 
land,  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved,  and  his  possessions  are  as  a  monument  to 
his  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  exercises  his  right 
of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican  party 
and  has  served  as  School  Director  for  a  number  of 
years.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Jacob  E.  Reed 
Post  No.  550,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Newton.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  are  worthy  people,  who  hold  an  envi- 
able position  in  social  circles  and  are  favorably 
known. 


ENJAMIN  F.  HEAP  is  a  well-known  farmer 
and  one  of  the  native  sons  of  Richland 
County.  He  was  born  January  26,  1847, 
in  Oluey  Township,  and  is  now  living  on 
section  23,  where  he  carries  on  general  farming. 
His  parents  were  Isaiah  and  Rachel  (Powell)  Heap. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Guernsey  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  reared  upon  a  farm  in  the  Buckeye  State. 
When  a  young  man  he  came  to  Richland  County, 
entered  land  from  the  Government  and  then  mar- 
ried. From  that  time  until  his  death,  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  with  the  exception  of 
about  a  year,  which  he  spent  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  as  a  member  of  Company  E,  Sixth  Illinois 
Cavalry.  He  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
the  community,  and  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen.  He  died  April  27,  1881,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  Mrs.  Heap,  who  is  also  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  is  of  German  extraction,  is  still  liv- 
ing on  the  old  home  farm.  In  the  family  were 
eleven  children,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters,  of 
whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 

Benjamin  F.  Heap  remained  upon  the  old  farm 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  during  the  winter 
season  attended  the  district  schools,  acquiring  a 
good  education.  On  the  28th  of  March,  1865,  al- 


though only  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  became  one 
of  the  boys  in  blue,  enlisting  at  the  same  time 
that  his  father  joined  the  service,  both  becoming 
members  of  Company  E,  Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry. 
About  a  year  previous  he  had  left  school  and  of- 
fered his  services,  but  was  rejected  on  account  of 
his  age.  He  was  mustered  out  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  receiving  his  discharge  November  25,  1865. 

After  he,  returned  home,  Mr.  Heap  was  ill  for 
about  a  year  as  the  result  of  his  army  experience. 
When  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  his  health  he 
began  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  A 
year  later  he  rented  land  and  embarked  in  business 
for  himself.  He  now  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm 
three  and  a-half  miles  south  of  Olney,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  its  cultivation  devotes  much  of  his  time 
to  the  manufacture  of  brooms,  which  industry 
yields  him  a  good  income. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1870,  Mr.  Heap  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  D.  Wilson,  who  was 
born  March  29,  1847,  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio, 
but  was  then  living  in  Coles  County,  111.  Three 
children  grace  their  union,  as  follows:  Carrie,  who 
was  born  April  22,  1871;  Mark  O.,  March  8,  1874; 
and  Carles  L.,  September  27,  1876.  They  are  still 
at  home  with  their  parents.  The  family  is  one 
that  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  locality. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Heap  is  a  Republican,  and  socially 
is  a  member  of  Ed  Kitchell  Post  No.  662,  G.  A.  R. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  man,  faith- 
ful in  the  discharge  of  every  public  duty,  and  true 
to  every  private  trust. 


OHN  DONOVAN  PARKER,  deceased,  was 
born  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  December  7, 
1815,  and  died  in  Parkersburgh,  111.,  May  9, 
1883.  His  parents  were  James  and  Susan 
(Donovan)  Parker.  The  famil3'  removed  from 
Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1818,  and  be- 
came pioneer  settlers  of  Lawrence,, now  Richland, 
County.  There  were  then  but  three  families  on 
the  present  site  of  Parkersburgh,  and  besides  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


241 


small  settlement  at  Calhoun,  there  were  probably 
no  other  residents  in  the  county  at  that  time. 
James  Parker  bought  a  squatter's  claim,  and  upon 
that  farm  made  his  home  until  his  death  in  1868, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  When  the  family 
came,  a  tribe  of  Indians  were  encamped  on  Sugar 
Creek,  but  after  a  few  months  they  removed  to  a 
reservation  further  westward.  The  nearest  grist- 
mill to  the  Parker  home  was  eighteen  .miles  dis- 
tant, and  the  nearest  store  was  at  Albion,  sixteen 
miles  away.  The  settlers  depended  largely  upon 
game  for  their  food.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr. 
Parker  made  annual  trips  to  New  Orleans,  build- 
ing flatboats  at  Mt.  Carmel,  which  he  loaded  with 
corn  and  Qoated  to  market  down  the  river.  On 
the  return  trip,  which  was  made  on  foot,  he  would 
bring  dry  goods  and  other  supplies. 

John  D.  Parker,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
attended  a  private  school  in  Albion  and  thus  ac- 
quired his  education.  He  succeeded  to  the  owner- 
ship of  his  father's  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
which  he  carried  on  until  his  death.  He  also  dealt 
in  live  stock  and  was  a  successful  business  man.  For 
many  years  he  kept  a  tavern,  and  the  business  is 
still  carried  on  by  his  widow.  His  hospitality  was 
extended  to  all,  the  penniless  as  well  as  the  afflu- 
ent, and  his  house  was  a  popular  resort  in  the 
days  when  all  traveling  was  done  by  team  or  on 
horseback. 

On  the  13th  of  September,  1838,  Mr.  Parker 
married  Miss  Eliza  J.  Woods,  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew and  Cassandra  Woods,  of  Richland  County. 
She  was  born  in  Kentucky,  near  the  mouth  of 
Licking  River.  They  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children:  George  W.,  of  Arnold,  Neb.;  Mrs.  Mary 
Cassandra  Jenners;  Susanna,  wife  of  F.  Althouse, 
of  Chicago;  Jarnes  A.,  deceased;  Eliza  J.,  wife  of 
A.  Althouse;  John  G.,  of  Harper  City,  Kan.;  Clara 
C.,  wife  of  E.  S.  Whittaker;  Charles  W.,  of  Mt. 
Erie,- 111.;  Edgar  R.,  of  Springfield,  Mo.;  Arthur  M. 
and  Ulysses  G. 

About  1860,  Mr.  Parker  planted  the  village  of 
Parkersburgh.  He  was  always  prominently  ident- 
ified with  the  history  of  this  county,  and  did 
much  toward  its  growth  and  upbuilding.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  later  was  a  Demo- 
crat. He  belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 


held  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
was  a  kind  and  affectionate  husband  and  father, 
was  very  seldom  from  home,  and  always  kept  his 
children  near  him  until  his  death.  He  was  very 
charitable  and  free-hearted,  a  friend  to  the  poor 
and  needy,  and  an  upright  and  respected  citizen, 
and  no  man  in  Richland  County  had  fewer  enemies. 


;ILLIAM  H.  EIDSON,  M.  D.,  a  retired 
physician,  who  for  many  years  was  prom- 
inent in  the  medical  fraternity  of  Jasper 
County,  makes  his  home  in  Willow  Hill.  As  he  is 
both  widely  and  favorably  known,  a  record  of  his 
life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 
A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Preble  County, 
September  17,  1816.  His  parents  were  Henry  and 
Nancy  (Bunch)  Eidson.  The  family  is  of  English 
descent,  and  was  founded  in  America  by  the 
grand  father  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in  Eng- 
land. He  came  of  a  wealthy  family,  and  being  the 
eldest  child  inherited  quite  a  large  estate,  but  ow- 
ing to  political  strife,  he  desired  to  seek  a  home 
elsewhere,  and  when  a  young  man  crossed  the  At- 
lantic. He  located  in  Virginia,  where  he  died  at 
an  advanced  age.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Bedford  County,  Va.,  March  14,  1777,  and 
in  1812  emigrated  from  his  native  State  to  Ohio, 
where  he  spent' the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  March  21,  1847.  He  had 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Augusta 
County,  Va.,  died  in  October,  1853.  She  was  of 
Scotch  extraction,  both  of  her  parents  being  na- 
tives of  Scotland,  whence  they  emigrated  to  the 
United  States. 

Our  subject  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  a 
family  numbering  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
In  order  of  birth  he  was  the  youngest.  He  spent 
his  early  life  upon  the  farm  in  Ohio  with  his  par- 
ents, remaining  at  home  until  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. The  educational  privileges  afforded  him 
were  those  of  the  common  schools.  On  reaching 


242 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


man's  estate,  he  determined  to  enter  the  medical 
profession,  and  to  this  end  began  studying  under 
the  direction  of  Dr.  William  A.  Limawver,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  graduates  of  Jefferson  Medical 
College.  After  four  years  thus  spent  in  study,  Mr. 
Kidson  went  to  Mexico,  Ind.,and  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  there  re- 
mained for  about  two  years,  when  he  returned 
home  on  account  of  the  illness  of  his  father,  who 
died  soon  afterward. 

The  Doctor  then  remained  in  Ohio  for  a  few 
months,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine.  Sub- 
sequently we  find  him  in  Clark  County,  111.,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  for  about  a  year,  after  which 
lie  came  to  Jasper  County,  locating  in  Willow  Hill. 
This  was  in  1854.  Here  he  opened  an  office  and 
was  successfully  engaged  in  practice  until  1880, 
when  he  retired  to  private  life,  turning  his  busi- 
ness over  to  his  son. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1844,  Dr.  Eidson  married 
Miss  Catherine  Coffman,  who  was  born  near  lla- 
gerstown,  Md.,  March  14, 1817.  Her  parents  were 
"  both  natives  of  Germany.  After  having  traveled 
life's  journey  together  for  almost  forty  years,  this 
worthy  couple  were  separated  by  the  death  of  the 
wife  in  1883.  They  had  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  but  four  died  in  childhood. 
Henry  A.,  the  eldest,  and  the  only  son  now  living, 
was  born  November  9,  1846,  in  Mexico,  Ind.,  and 
was  about  eight  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
came  to  Jasper  County.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  until  twenty  years  of  age,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  teaching  for  two  terms  in  the  Willow 
Hill  schools.  He  served  as  Deputy  County  Clerk, 
and  was  Deputy  Circuit  Cleik  for  three  years.  In 
1878,  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  of  Chicago, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  on  the  24th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1880.  The  following  day  he  was  married, 
but  his  wife  died  a  year  later.  He  then  came  to 
Willow  Hill  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  he  lias  since  continued.  He  was 
again  married,  on  the  loth  of  November,  1882, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mary  J.  McCartney, 
of  Neoga,  111.,  by  whom  he  has  four  children: 
Fannie  A.,  William  M.,  Harry  A.  and  Laura  A. 
Henry  is  now  one  of  the  leading  physicians  of  the 
county,  and  holds  a  high  rank  among  his  profes- 


sional brethren.  The  other  members  of  the  Eidson 
family  are  Catherine  E.  and  Laura  J.  The  latter  is 
now  Postmistress  of  Willow  Hill. 

Dr.  Eidson,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  mani- 
fested his  loyalty  to  the  Government  during  the 
late  war  by  enlisting  as  a  member  of  Company 
K,  Thirty-second  Illinois  Infantry,  but  he  was  only 
in  the  service  a  few  months,  when  he  was  obliged 
to  return  home  on  account  of  ill  health.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  warmly  advocating 
the  principles  of  that  party.  He  served  as  County 
Commissioner  for  four  years,  was  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  a  number  of  years,  was  Police  Magistrate 
for  ten  years,  and  has  been  Postmaster  of  Willow 
Hill  for  almost  thirty  years,  being  first  appointed  to 
the  position  in  1854.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  belongs  to  Cooper  Lodge 
No.  489,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Willow  Hill,  of  which 
he  was  Master  for  a  number  of  years,  while  his  son 
Henry  has  held  that  position  for  fifteen  years. 
The  Doctor  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  this  community.  Few 
men  are  more  widely  known  in  this  region,  and 
none  are  more  universally  esteemed.  A  long  and 
well-spent  life  has  won  him  high  regard,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  present  to  our  readers  this 
record  of  his  career. 


OHN  S.  RIDLEN  is  the  owner  of  a  beauti- 
ful country  home,  situated  in  the  midst  of  a 
valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  on 
section  6,  Willow  Hill  Township,  Jasper 
County,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  of 
Willow  Hill.  A  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  he 
was  born  in  Clerinont  County  on  the  8th  of  March, 
1820,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent  on  the  paternal 
side,  and  of  French  extraction  on  the  maternal 
side.  His  parents  were  Stephen  and  Ann  (Belle- 
ville) Ridlen.  The  father  was  born  in  Maine  Sep- 
tember 15,  1788,  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


247 


had  served  in  the  War  of  1812.  In  an  early  day 
he  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State,  where  lie  made 
his  home  until  1852.  That  year  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  Jasper  County,  where  he  purchased  land, 
the  farm  upon  which  our  subject  now  resides. 
The  remainder  of  his. life  he  spent  in  this  county. 
His  death  occurred  in  January,  1864,  and  to  his 
family  he  left  quite  a  large  estate,  which  had  been 
acquired  through  his  own  industrious  efforts.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  December  12, 
1791,  also  spent  her  last  days  in  Jasper  County. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads 
was  reared  to  manhood.  He  spent  most  of  the 
time  with  his  parents  until  twenty-nine  years  of 
age,  when  he  left  the  parental  roof  to  make  a  home 
for  himself.  He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Bennett,  who 
was  born  December  18,  1828,  in  Ohio.  Her  death 
occurred  on  the  6th  of  December,  1882.  She  left 
a  family  of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Martha 
Ellen  (deceased),  who  was  the  wife  of  John  Parr, 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Jasper  County;  Margaret 
Ann,  widow  of  James  Hartley ;  Eliza  Jane,  wife  of 
James  R.  Manning,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Jasper  County;  Lydia  C.,  who  married 
Frank  P.  Hurt,  a  farmer  of  the  same  county; 
Sarah  F.,  wife  of  William  H.  Lovrig,  of  Jasper 
County;  William  P.,  who  follows  farming  in  this 
community;  and  Mary  C.,  wife  of  Harrison  Con- 
rad, also  a  farmer  of  Jasper  Count}'.  On  the  7th  of 
November,  1887,  Mr.  Ridlen  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Lucy  J.  Gardner,  a 
native  of  Illinois.  They  are  well-known  people 
of  this  community  and  rank  high  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Ridlen  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  When  a  young  man,  he  purchased 
a  farm  in  Hancock  County,  Ind.,  and  operated  it 
until  1865.  In  that  year  he  sold  out,  and  choos- 
ing Illinois  as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors,  came 
to  Jasper  County.  Soon  after  his  arrival  he 
bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  It  is 
complete  in  all  of  its  appointments,  supplied  with 
all  modern  improvements  and  conveniences,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  locality. 
In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Ridlen  is  a  Democrat. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  and  has  been 
Roadmaster  for  a  number  of  years.  With  the 

11 


Baptist  Church  he  holds  membership.  In  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  makes  his  home  he  is  recog- 
nized as  an  upright  and  honorable  maa  and  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen. 


JfOHN  C.  PAUGH,  M.  D.,  is  a  well-known 
I  physician  and  surgeon  of  Mason,  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  Village  Board.  In  the  years  of 
his  residence  here  he  has  not  only  won  a 

prominent  place  among  the  medical  fraternity  of 
the  county,  but  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
and  influential  citizens.  He  is  a  man  of  genial  and 
kindly  disposition,  has  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  is 
very  popular. 

Dr.  Paugh  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  Springville, 
Lawrence  County,  being  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
the  date  August  10,  1841.  He  is  ason  of  Dr.P.  G. 
Paugh,  also  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  of  German 
descent,  who  lost  his  father  during  his  infancy. 
Having  attained  to  mature  years,  Dr.  Paugh  wed- 
ded Miss  Sarah  Scoggins,  and  unto  them  were  born 
three  children.  Sarah,  the  eldest,  married  Newton 
Young,  now  a  retired  merchant  of  Altamont,  111. 
Mary  is  the  widow  of  Joseph  Cook,  who  died  in 
Paris,  111.;  they  had  three  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lincoln  and  Eva,  are  living  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
William  was  twice  married.  He  wedded  Miss  Lou 
Edwards,  and  they  had  two  daughters  and  a  son: 
Gertrude,  wife  of  William  Morton,  of  St.  Louis; 
Grundy;  and  Lola,  deceased,  wife  of  Russell  Clark, 
a  lawyer  of  Chicago.  For  his  second  wife,  Will- 
iam Paugh  wedded  Miss  EmmaMcAckren,  of  Mat- 
toon,  111.  His  death  occurred  in  June,  1890. 

Dr.  Paugh,  Sr.,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  Cook.  She  too  was 
a  native  of  Indiana,  and  was  of  German  and 
Scotch  descent.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom 
four  are  yet  living:  John  C.,  Amelia,  Isabel  and 
Laura.  Martha,  Nancy  and  Joseph,  who  were  the 
third,  fourth  and  fifth  children  in  order  of  birth, 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


are  now  deceased.  Amelia  is  Hie  wife  of  Andrew 
T.  Douglas,  of  Mason,  by  whom  she  has  a  son,  Will- 
iam. Isabel  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Davis,  a  farmer 
near  Mason,  and  they  have  three  children:  Laura, 
Paul  and  Garrison  E.  Laura,  the  youngest  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Paugh,  Sr.,  resides  witli  her  parents. 

The  Doctor  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois 
in  1865,  locating  in  the  village  of  Mason,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  opened  an  office  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession 
until  about  five  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has 
lived  a  retired  life.  He  is  now  eighty-seven  years 
of  age,  and  his  wife  is  in  her  seventy-fifth  year. 
They  have  traveled  life's  journey  together  as  man 
and  wife  for  fifty-three  years. 

Dr.  John  C.  Paugh  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
^pringville,  Ind.,  and  acquired  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  that  locality.  After 
arriving  at  man's  estate,  he  decided  to  enter  the 
profession  which  his  father  followed,  and  became 
a  student  in  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago, 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1869. 
He  had  come  to  Mason  with  the  family  in  1865, 
and  after  his  medical  studies  were  completed,  he 
returned  to  this  place.  In  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine he  has  won  an  enviable  reputation  for  his 
skill  and  ability,  and  has  secured  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive practice. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Paugh 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Marian  Woods,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Vienna  (Herrick)  Woods,  the 
former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  In- 
diana. The  marriage  of  the  Doctor  and  his  wife 
was  celebrated  January  27,  1870,  and  their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children:  Anna  V., 
Alice  M.,  Garrison  B.,  Wilbur  J.  and  Albert. 

In  his  social  relations,  the  Doctor  belongs  to 
Mason  Lodge  No.  217,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Cedar 
Lodge  No.  211,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  and  Little  Wabash 
Lodge  No.  1202,  M.  W.  A.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stanch  supporter  of  Republican  principles,  and  is 
now  serving  as  President  of  the  Village  Board  of 
Mason.  He  owns  a  good  home  property,  besides 
ten  acres  of  land  on  the  edge  of  town,  a  forty- 
acre  tract  a  mile  east  of  Mason,  and  sevent}'-six 
acres  in  Union  Township.  His  possessions  have 
all  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts.  The 


Doctor  is  quiet  and  unostentatious  in  manner,  yet 
his  many  excellencies  of  character  and  qualities  of 
sterling  worth  have  made  him  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  this  community. 


AMUEL  T.  BOURNE,  an  old  soldier  and 
a  well-known  citizen  of  Decker  Township, 
residing  on  section  16,  has  made  his  home 
for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  in 
Richland  Count}'.  He  was  born  in  Decatur 
County,  Ind.,  February  20,  1841.  He  comes  of  an 
.old  English  family  that  lived  near  the  town  of 
Bourne,  England,  and  that  was  established  in 
Massachusetts  in  1620.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  father,  Ransford  Bourne,  was  born  in  Mas- 
sachusetts November  8,  1818,  and  with  his  par- 
ents went  to  Indiana  when  a  boy.  The  family  lo- 
cated in  Franklin  County.  The  journey  had  been 
made  with  a  horse  and  wagon,  on  which  the  wife 
and  children  rode  alternate!}'.  The  grandfather 
accumulated  a  considerable  fortune  and  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Ransford  was 
reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life.  He 
acquired  a  good  education  and  became  a  school 
teacher.  In  1840  he  married  Eliza  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German  parentage, 
and  the  same  year  removed  with  his  bride  to  De- 
catur County,  Ind.,  where  he  opened  up  a  new 
farm  in  the  midst  of  the  beech  woods,  making  it 
his  home  until  1853,  when  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence near  Sumner,  111.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  the  late  war,  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  killed  eight 
months  later  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  The  mother  had 
died  in  the  summer  of  1857.  After  the  death  of 
the  parents,  the  family  separated.  There  were  six 
children  who  grew  to  mature  years:  Samuel  T.,  of 
this  sketch:  Zaccheus,  who  participated  irf  twent}'- 
nine  hard  battles  of  the  late  war,  and  is  now  a  suc- 
cessful and  wealthy  farmer,  living  near  Ellsworth, 
Iowa;  Nancy,  a  resident  of  Indiana;  Mary,  de- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


249 


ceased;  Henry,  who  resided  near  Shelby ville,  111., 
and  was  murdered  for  his  money  at  Westfield,  111., 
February  G,  1891;  and  Lucy,  of  Franklin  Count}-, 
Ind. 

Our  subject  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  the 
family  came  to  Illinois.  On  that  trip  he  drove  an 
ox-team.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  Indiana,  to  which  he  made  his  way  by  follow- 
ing a  course  indicated  by  blazed  trees.  On  the 
9th  of  July,  1861,  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  A,  Eleventh  Missouri  Infantry.  After 
the  regiment  was  drilled  at  St.  Louis,  the  troops 
were  sent  to  help  fortify  Cape  Girardeau,  after 
which  they  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fredericks- 
town,  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10  and  Point  Pleas- 
ant. During  those  campaigns  they  waded  through 
swamps,  where  the  horses  could  not  go,  and 
dragged  the  cannon.  After  the  engagement  at 
Ft.  Pillow,  they  went  to  re-enforce  Grant,  and 
took  part  in  the  Corinth  campaign  and  the  cap- 
ture of  the  city.  Then  came  the  battle  of  luka, 
where  Mr.  Bourne  was  hit  almost  simultaneously 
with  three  balls.  The  first  passed  through  the  left 
shoulder  blade  and  took  away  a  part  of  his  back- 
bone. The  second  lodged  in  his  left  lung  and  he 
still  carries  that  piece  of  rebel  lead.  The  third 
passed  through  the  spleen  and  lodged  in  the  spinal 
column.  This  produced  an  abcess  which  has  never 
yet  healed.  Mr.  Bourne  was  marked  by  the  sur- 
geon as  mortally  wounded,  but  the  surgeon  died 
nine  years  ago,  and  he  is  still  living.  He  re- 
mained in  the  hospital  until  December  11,  1862, 
and  then  received  his  discharge.  From  the  effects 
of  his  injuries,  however,  he  will  never  recover,  and 
as  a  slight  remuneration  the  Government  has 
granted  him  a  pension  of  $72  per  month. 

On  his  return  home  Mr.  Bourne,  not  content 
with  his  education,  entered  Miami  University  and 
after  a  four-years  course  was  graduated  from  that 
institution  in  1866.  He  then  engaged  in  preach- 
ing for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  two 
years,  in  Ohio  and  Illinois.  Soon  after  locating 
in  Richland  County,  he  changed  relationship  with 
the  church,  owing  to  the  absence  of  any  Methodist 
Episcopal  congregation  in  the  locality,  and  united 
with  the  United  Brethren  Church.  In  1868  he  lo- 
cated in  Uichland  C'ounty,  where  he  has  since  made 


his  home.  For  fourteen  years  he  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  winter  season.  He  is  still  in  the 
ministry  as  a  local  preacher,  and  as  he  is  a  highly- 
cultivated  man  and  able  speaker  he  has  done  good 
work  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

In  Franklin  County,  Ind.,  in  1867,  Mr.  Bourne 
married  Sallie  Carter.  She  died  in  1878,  leaving 
six  children:  Minnie  R.,  wife  of  N.  R.  Frost,  a 
farmer  of  Decker  Township;  H.  D.,  a  minister  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  now  a  student  in 
Westfield  College;  Nellie,  who  keeps  house  for  her 
father;  Mary,  Samuel  T.  and  Ora  P.  In  1878  Mr. 
Bourne  married  Melinda  Brock,  daughter  of  Rev. 
P.  Brock.  She  died  July  2,  1892,  leaving  five 
children:  Cora,  Clarissa,  Bertha,  Walter  and  Edgar. 

Mr.  Bourne  has  devoted  much  of  his  life  to  reli- 
gious work  and  was  the  founder  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  Wynoose,  with  which  he  and 
his  six  eldest  children  now  hold  membership.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Lincoln  in  1864, 
and  was  a  Republican  until  1884,  since  which  time 
he  has  supported  the  Prohibition  party.  He  now 
owns  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres  of  good 
land  in  Richland  and  Wayne  Counties  and  de- 
votes the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention  to 
general  farming.  The  community  finds  in  him 
one  of  its  best  citizens.  A  worthy  man,  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  he  has  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all  who  know  him,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  this  record  of  his  life  to 
our  readers. 


ON.  SYLVESTER  F.  GILMORE,  a  well- 
known  lawyer  of  Effingham,  and  County 
Judge  of  Effingham  County,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  city  since  1867.  Judge 
Gilmore  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  on  the 
17th  of  August,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Leach)  Gilmore,  both  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Rockbridge 
County,  Va.,  and  were  descended  from  old  Vir- 
ginian families  who  originally  settled  in  the  Cum- 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


berland  Valley.  The  father  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  and  the  mother  was  of  Scotch  lineage. 
Their  remote  ancestors,  who  established  the  fami- 
lies in  America,  were  old-school  Presbyterians,  or 
Scotch  Covenanters,  and  the  faith  of  that  sect  has 
been  the  religion  of  their  descendants.  Judge 
Gilmore's  father  died  in  January,  1889,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven  years,  and  the  mother  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond  in  the  month  of  January, 
1866. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood upon  a  farm  and  began  his  education  in  the 
common  schools,  but  his  early  privileges  were  sup- 
plemented by  a  course  of  stud}-  in  Hanover  Col- 
lege, of  South  Hanover,  Ind.  Desiring  to  enter 
the  legal  profession  and  make  it  his  life  work,  in 
1858  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Col.  John  A. 
Matson,  of  Greencastle,  Ind.  After  two  years 
spent  in  reading  with  that  gentleman  he  entered 
the  law  department  of  the  Indiana  Asbury  Uni- 
versity, now  the  Depauw  University,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '60.  Soon  after- 
ward he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen 
profession  in  Greencastle,  continuing  business  at 
that  place,  however,  only  a  short  time.  He  then 
removed  to  Carmi,  White  County,  111.,  where  he 
practiced  law  for  a  year  and  a-half.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  returned  to  his  old  home 
in  Indiana,  and  in  July,  1863,  entered  the  one 
hundred  day  service  as  a  member  of  the  Seventy- 
eighth  Indiana  Infantry. 

Judge  Gilmore's  command  was  attached  to  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was  stationed  at  Un- 
iontown,  Ky.  He  took  part  in  the  engagements 
which  took  place  there  and  at  Morganfleld.  At 
Uniontown  the  entire  command  was  captured. 
This  was  late  in  the  year  1863.  They  were  held 
prisoners  but  a  short  time,  however,  when  they 
were  paroled  and  then  discharged  and  returned 
to  the  North. 

Arriving  at  home,  Judge  Gilmore  there  remained 
until  September,  1867,  when  he  came  toEfflngham, 
opened  a  law  office  and  embarked  in  legal  prac- 
tice, which  he  has  carried  on  continuously  since 
with  excellent  success,  receiving  a  liberal  patron- 
age. In  1869  he  was  elected  County  Superintend- 
ent of  Schools  of  Effingham  County,  and  held  that 


office  until  1873.  On  retiring  from  that  position 
he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  J.  C.  White, 
which  connection  was  continued  until  Mr.  Gil- 
more  was  elected  County  Judge  in  the  fall  of  1883. 
So  well  did  he  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office 
that  he  has  been  twice  re-elected  to  the  position 
and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  County  Judge. 
He  has  also  been  Master  of  Chancery  of  Effing- 
ham  County  for  one  term,  and  served  one  term  as 
Alderman  of  the  city. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  1860,  in  Greencastle, 
Ind.,  Judge  Gilmore  was  united  in  marriage  witli 
Miss  Julia  A.,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Matkin.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  Greencastle,  Ind.  Four  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  a  daughter,  were  born  of 
their  union:  Clarence  II.,  Mary  E.,  William  and 
Thomas  E.  The  youngest  son  was  graduated  from 
the  Chicago  Law  School  in  the  Class  of  June,  1892, 
and  is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  the  prac- 
tice of  the  legal  profession.  Clarence  married 
Miss  Nettie  Magood,  and  resides  in  LaFayette, 
Ind.  Mrs.  Gilmore  died  on  the  12th  of  June,  1881, 
and  on  the  8th  of  November,  1883,  the  Judge  was 
again  married.  His  present  wife  was  formerly 
Miss  Margaret  M.  Means.  She  is  a  native  of  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Rosanna  Means. 

Judge  Gilmore  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  socially  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  also 
a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  The  Judge 
is  interested  in  the  manufacturing  interests  of 
Effingham.  He  is  a^stockholder  in  the  Effingham 
Manufacturing  Company,  a  recently  established 
furniture  factory  of  that  city,  and  is  also  a  share- 
holder in  the  Effingham  Canning  and  Wood  Pack- 
age Company.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  busines 
ability,  sagacious  and  far-sighted,  and  has  the  fac- 
ulty of  canning  through  to  successful  completion 
whatever  he  undertakes.  He  has  also  shown  him- 
self a  friend  to  the  cause  of  education,  and  wa 
one  of  the  original  movers  in  securing  a  college  ir 
Effingham,  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  the 
Austin  College  and  Normal  Institute,  which  isnov 
in  successful  operation  in  that  place.  Of  that 
school,  the  Judge  is  now  a  Trustee.  Further  men- 
tion of  the  institution  is  made  on  another  page  of 
this  work. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


251 


In  his  political  aillliation,  Judge  Gilmore  is  a 
Democrat,  and  the  duties  of  the  various  offices  he 
has  held  have  been  discharged  with  ability  and 
great  fidelity.  His  reputation  as  a  lawyer  is  high, 
his  skill  is  attested  by  years  of  successful  practice, 
and  he  is  a  recognized  leader  of  the  Effingham 
County  liar. 


1|j  AMES  A.  OSBORN,  manager  of  the  Park- 
|  ers burgh  Mill,  in  which  he  also  owns  an 
interest,  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of 
this  community.  His  life  record  is  as  fol- 
lows: He  was  born  on  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
near  Lancaster,  III.,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  Osboru. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  about  1825,  the  family 
locating  in  Lawrence  County.  Daniel  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Nancy  Thompson.  In  Lawrence 
County,  he  erected  one  of  the  first  gristmills 
there  built,  and  carried  on  business  in  that  line  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  now  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Lancaster. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  boyhood  days  upon  a  farm  and  in  the 
common  schools,  where  the  most  of  his  education 
was  acquired.  For  three  months,  however,  he 
was  a  student  in  an  academy  at.  Friendsville,  111. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  he  began  working 
at  the  milling  trade,  and  three  months  later  he 
took  charge  of  one  of  the  largest  mills  in  southern 
Illinois.  This  was  located  at  Friendsville.  Since 
that  lime  he  has  operated  and  managed  mills  at 
various  places. 

On  the  27tli  of  February,  1871,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  James  Osborn  and  Mary  French, 
a  daughter  of  Newton  and  Sarah  French.  Her 
parents  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Lawrence  County. 
I'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
three  children,  a  son  and  two  daughters,  namely: 
Rosa,  now  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Seibert;  Nora  and 
Charles  M.  The  family  circle  yet  remains  un- 
broken by  the  hand  of  Death,  and  the  two  younger 


children  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  The 
Osborn  household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and 
its  members  rank  high  in  social  circles. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Osborn  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public 
office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  It  was  in 
1890  that  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Park- 
ersburgh  Flouring  Mill,  of  which  he  lias  since  had 
charge  and  he  has  proved  himself  an  able  manager. 
He  thoroughly  understands  the  business  in  all  its 
details  and  has  therefore  controlled  affairs  success- 
fully. Since  becoming  connected  with  the  mill, 
he  has  enlarged  it  and  put  in  the  new  roller  pro- 
cess. The  present  capacity  is  fifty  barrels  of  flour 
per  day.  This  finds  a  ready  sale  in  the  suriound- 
ing  markets  and  the  owners  of  the  Parkersburgh 
Mill  are  enjoying  a  flourishing  trade.  Mr.  Osborn 
is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity, 
and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  com- 
munity. 


EBASTIAN  F.  SMITH,  one  of  the  represen- 
tative business  men  of  Shum  way,  Effingham 
County,  carries  on  general  merchandis- 
ing at  this  place.  He  established  business 
here  in  1881,  but  did  not  personally  take  charge 
of  it  until  two  years  later.  He  carries  a  full  and 
complete  stock  of  goods  and  is  doing  a  good  busi- 
ness. His  fair  dealing,  his  courteous  treatment 
of  his  patrons  and  his  earnest  desire  to  please  them, 
have  won  the  respect  of  the  entire  community  and 
gained  him  a  liberal  patronage,  of  which  he  is  well 
deserving. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Sidnej-,  Shelby  County, 
Ohio,  February  2,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael 
Philip  and  Mary  M.  (Balsor)  Smith.  The  father 
was  born  in  Aushofenburg,  Germ'any,  and  when  a 
young  man  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  He 
was  a  stone  mason  by  trade  and  followed  that 
business  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  died 
in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  when  our  subject  was  quite 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


young.  His  wife  was  born  in  Alsace,  Germany, 
and  when  quite  young  came  with  her  brother  to 
the  United  States.  She  is  now  living  with  her  son 
near  Terie  Haute,  Ind.  This  worthy  couple  had  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom 
are  yet  living.  Henry  P.  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Indiana;  and  Susan  is  the  wife  of  M.  C.  Wade, 
a  trunk  manufacturer  of  Logansport,  Ind. 

The  other  member  of  the  family  is  our  subject, 
who,  during  his  youth,  went  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind., 
where  he  remained  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  his  mother  married  again  and  he  left  home. 
He  had  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  Catholic 
schools  of  Terre  Haute,  and  had  taken  a  two-years 
course  in  the  Benedictine  College  of  St.  Meinrad, 
Ind.  During  the  two  succeeding  years  he  traveled 
over  the  Western  country,  and  when  about  twenty 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Erfingham,  111.  Here  ho 
secured  a  position  as  fireman  on  the  Vandalia  Rail- 
road, in  which  capacity  he  was  employed  for  about 
four  years,  when  he  was  made  engineer.  During 
the  first  two  years  of  his  service  in  that  line  he 
ran  switch  and  construction  trains  and  was  then 
placed  in  charge  of  a  freight  train.  During  his 
services  as  engineer,  he  met  with  one  serious  acci- 
dent, he  and  his  fireman  being  both  badly  burned 
on  account  of  the  netting  being  stopped  up  in  the 
engine. 

On  the  29th  of  May,  1872,  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Henrietta  Elizabeth  McCosh,  who  was  born 
April  9,  1851,  in  Johnson  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Arthur  and  Nancy  (McLean)  McCosh. 
Three  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  of 
their  union,  but  Susan  E.,  who  was  born  March  1, 
1873,  died  March  2,  1874.  William,  born  January 
28,  1875,  is  a  highly  educated  young  man  who  now 
aids  his  father  in  the  store.  The  younger  members 
of  the  family  are  Sebastian  A.,  born  December  6, 
1876;  Edward  Quinn,  born  September  14,  1879; 
and  Lucy  Nancy,  born  July  28,  1889. 

Mr.  Smith  is  now  a  member  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Locomotive  Engineers.  He  also  holds  member- 
ship with  Hero  Lodge  No.  991,  K.  of  H.,of  P^ffing- 
ham,  and  with  Shumway  Camp  No.  1233,  of, 
Shutnway.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  warm  advocate 
of  Democratic  principles  and  has  served  as  School 


Director  in  his  town  for  four  years.  Mr.  Smith 
continued  his  connection  with  the  railroad  until 
1883.  Two  years  previous  he  had  established  a 
store  in  Shumway,  which  he  placed  in  charge  of  his 
brother-in-law,  but  in  1883  he  took  charge  of  it 
personally.  Besides  his  business  he  owns  a  beauti- 
ful home  in  Shumway  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
its  respected  and  representative  citizens. 


)ALENTINE  PFLUM,  who  devotes  his  ener- 
gies to  farming  on  section  5,  Olney  Town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  representative  citizens 
and  honored  pioneers  of  Richland  County,  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  February  12,  1829.  He  is  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Barbara  (Sharp)  Pflum.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  German  farmer  and  remained  in  his 
native  land  until  1854,  when  he  crossed  the  broad 
Atlantic  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Meigs  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1872,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one  years.  His  wife  survived  him 
some  time,  and  departed  this  life  in  West  Virginia, 
in  1886,  when  eighty-two  years  of  age. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  our  subject 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  when  he  determined  to  seek  home  and  for- 
tune in  the  New  World,  of  whose  advantages  and 
privileges  he  had  heard  such  favorable  accounts. 
It  was  on  the  12th  of  March,  1854,  that  he  took 
passage  on  a  Westward-bound  vessel,  which  after  a 
voyage  of  twenty-eight  days  dropped  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  New  York. 

Ere  leaving  his  native  laud,  Mr.  Pflum  was  mar- 
ried, Miss  Elizabeth  Hartman  becoming  his  wife. 
A  family  of  eight  children  has  been  born  of  this 
union.  Peter,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  is  the 
eldest,  and  was  only  about  a  year  old  when  his 
parents  crossed  the  Atlantic;  John  is  a  farmer  of 
Noble  Township,  Richland  County,  and  operates 
a  steam-thresher;  George  is  also  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  this  county;  Valentine  follows  agricultural 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


253 


pursuits;  Adam  is  engaged  in  the  same  business; 
Henry  is  at  home;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  John 
Snippert,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  and  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  Case  Bassett,  also  a  farmer.  The  children  all 
own  their  own  farms,  and,  like  their  parents,  are 
well-known  and  highly  respected  citizens  of  the 
community. 

For  some  years  after  coming  to  the  United 
States,  Mr.  Pflum  made  his  home  in  Ohio,  where 
he  carried  on  farming.  In  1874  he  came  to  Rich- 
land  County  with  his  family  and  settled  in  Noble 
Township,  where  he  resided  until  1888,  when  he 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  lives.  It 
is  one  of  the  best  improved  places  in  the  township. 
It  lias  upon  it  a  comfortable  residence,  good  barns 
and  other  outbuildings  and  a  five-acre  orchard. 

Mr.  Pflum  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  oftice.  He  is  a  member  of  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church  of  Olney,  and  is  a  man  whose  ster- 
ling worth  and  strict  integrity  have  gained  for  him 
many  friends.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved 
in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  and  the 
competence  which  he  now  possesses  is  but  the  just 
reward  of  his  labors.  The  day  on  which  he  sailed 
for  America  was  a  fortunate  one  for  him,  for  he 
has  met  with  prosperity  in  his  new  home. 


JOSEPH  FRY,  who  is  now  engaged  in  fruit- 
growing on  section    18,  Olney  Township, 
Richland  Count}',  claims  Ohio  as  the  State 
'    of   his  nativity,  his  birth    having  occurred 

in  Mt.  Vernon  on  the  25th  of  June,  1820.  He  is 
the  youngest  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  num- 
bering seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  all  are 
now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  our  subject 
and  his  brother  Jacob,  who  is  now  engaged  in 
fanning  in  Wisconsin. 

The   parents  of    this    family  were  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Reese)  Fry.     The   father  was  a  native 


of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
In  an  early  day  he  left  the  Keystone  State  and 
went  to  Ohio,  from  where  he  afterwards  emi- 
grated to  Richland  County,  111.,  in  1838.  Here  he 
afterwards  entered  land  from  the  Government, 
being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  locality,  and 
upon  the  farm  which  he  improved  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven.  His  wife,  who  was  also  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  while  living  in  Ed- 
wards County. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Joseph 
Fry,  who  is  widely  and  favorably  known  to  the 
citizens  of  this  community.  The  greater  part  of 
his  youthful  days  was  spent  in  Ohio,  and  in  its 
public  schools  he  accquired  a  limited  education. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  bade  adieu  to  his  na- 
tive State  and  started  on  the  Westward  journey  to 
Illinois  with  his  parents.  Under  the  parental  roof 
he  remained  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
and  to  his  father  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his  servi- 
ces, for  from  an  early  age  he  worked  in  the  fields, 
thus  becoming  familiar  with  all  the  details  of  farm 
life.  Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturitj^,  he 
started  out  for  himself  and  began  working  as  a 
farm  hand  by  the  month,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
employed  for  several  years.  In  this  way,  as  the 
result  of  his  labors,  good  management  and  econo- 
my, he  obtained  some  money,  which  he  invested  in 
forty  acres  of  land.  This  was  the  nucleus  of  his 
farm. 

In  1844  Mr.  Fry  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Nancy  Kaner,  who  resided  in  Edwards  County, 
111.  Eleven  children  have  been  born  to  the  union 
of  this  worthy  couple,  six  sons  and  five  daughters, 
but  death  has  broken  the  family  circle  and  only 
six  are  now  living.  Edith  I.,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  William  Rowley,  a  Methodist  minister  of 
Colorado;  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Shaw, 
who  follows  farming  in  Clay  County,  111.;  R.  T.  is 
now  serving  as  Postmaster  in  the  city  of  Olney; 
James  A.  is  a  well-known  farmer  of  Clay  County; 
Nettie  comes  next;  and  Lena  is  the  wife  of  John 
Glathart,  a  farmer  of  Olney  Township. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Fry  successfully  engaged 
in  farming,  but  in  1892  he  sold  his  farm  and  put 


254 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  money  out  at  interest.  At  this  writing  he  is 
superintendent  of  the  fruit  farm  owned  by  his 
son.  He  is  an  honored  pioneer  of  the  county  and 
worthy  of  representation  in  its  history.  In  his 
political  views  he  is  a  Republican,  and  though  he 
manifests  an  interest  in  politics,  as  all  true  Ameri- 
can citizens  should  do,  he  has  never  been  an  as- 
pirant for  office,  in  fact  has  steadily  refused  to  serve 
in  public  positions.  For  fifty-five  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  but  is  at  present 
a  member  of  the  New  Light  Church,  and  is  now 
serving  as  Deacon.  He  takes  a  great  interest  in 
all  religious  work,  and  is  assistant  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school.  He  has  long  been  an  ear- 
nest laborer  in  the  Master's  vineyard  and  in  his 
declining  years  he  can  look  back  over  a  well-spent 
life  of  faithful  service. 


ALE  JOHNSON,  of  the  well-known  law 
firm  of  Gibson  &  Johnson,  of  Newton,  Jas- 
Per  County,  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He 
was  born  in  Sugar  Grove  Township,  Tip- 
pecanoe  County,  August  21,  1847.  His  parents 
were  Dr.  John  B.  and  Sarah  A.  (Davison)  Johnson, 
both  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  The  father  was 
born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  February  17,1818. 
He  adopted  the  medical  profession  as  a  vocation, 
and  after  a  thorough  course  of  study  in  each  was 
graduated  from  the  allopathic  and  eclectic  medi- 
cal colleges.  During  the  late  war  he  served  as 
Surgeon  of  the  Seventy-second  Indiana  Regiment. 
In  early  life  he  removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  A.  Davison,  who  died  in  that  State 
March  26,  1853,  leaving  three  children:  Hale,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch;  Litta  H.,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Didlake,  a  resident  physician  of  Mon- 
ticello,  Ind.;  and  Preston  K.,  now  deceased.  Dr. 
Johnson  was  again  married,  in  1854,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Rebecca  Aydelott,  of  Lin- 
den, Ind.  In  1865  the  Doctor  removed  from  the 
Hoosier  State  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Marion 


County,  where  he  pursued  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession for  a  time.  He  subsequently  removed  to 
White  County,  Ark.,  but  after  the  death  of  his 
second  wife  he  returned  to  this  State  and  spent  his 
declining  years  among  his  children.  After  a  long 
and  useful  professional  life  his  death  occurred  on 
the  14th  of  October,  1892,  in  the  seventy-fifth 
year  of  his  age. 

Hale  Johnson,  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  early  life 
upon  a  farm,  receiving  his  education  in  the  coun- 
tiy  district  schools  and  in  the  Academy  .it  Ladoga, 
Ind.  In  May,  1864,  he  relinquished  his  academic 
course  to  enter  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Un- 
ion. He  enlisted  in  the  one  hundred  day  service 
as  a  private  in  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-fifth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  with  his  com- 
mand did  duty  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama, defending  bridges,  posts  and  supplies  for  six 
months.  He  received  his  discharge  in  December, 
1864. 

On  his  return  from  the  army  Mr.  Johnson  con- 
tinued in  Indiana  until  November,  1865,  when  he 
accompanied  his  father  and  the  family  to  Illinois, 
making  his  home  in  Marion  County  of  this  State. 
He  was  there  engaged  in  "farming  and  school- 
teaching  until  1872,  when  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  law  under  the  preceptorship  of  W.  R. 
Hubbard,  Esq.,  of  Kinmundy,  Marion  County,  111. 
After  a  thorough  course  of  study  he  passed  an  ex- 
amination before  the  Supreme  Court  at  Mt.  Ver- 
non,  at  the  June  term  of  1875,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar.  Soon  afterward  he  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  in  Altamont,  Ef- 
fingham  County,  where  he  sought  to  build  up  a 
practice.  lie  also  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
a  part  of  the  time  in  order  to  avoid  a  deficit  in  the 
exchequer.  After  spending  two  years  in  practice 
in  Altamont  he  was  attracted  to  Newton,  Jasper 
County,  by  the  reports  of  the  thrifty  growth  of 
that  county  seat,  and  in  June,  1877,  changed  his 
place  of  residence  to  that  commonwealth,  where  he 
has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  prose- 
cution of  his  profession.  Soon  after  coining  to 
Newton,  Mr.  Johnson  became  associated  in  prac- 
tice with  J.  M.  Honey,  which  connection  continued 
until  near  the  close  of  1881.  On  the  1st  of  Janu- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


255 


ary,  1882,  our  subject  formed  the  existing  law 
partnership  with  James  W.  Gibson.  He  has  also 
been  associated  with  G.  II.  Shup  in  the  real-estate 
business. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1871,  Mr.  Johnson 
was  married,  in  Alma,  Marion  County,  111.,  to 
Miss  Mary  E.  Loofbourrow.  The  lady  was  born 
in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Or- 
lando and  Frances  L.  (Delany)  Loofbourrow.  Her 
^  parents  were  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
and  her  paternal  grandfather,  Judge  Loofbourrow, 
is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Ohio. 
Seven  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Johnson,  of  whom  five  are  yet  living, 
two  having  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are 
Jessie  B.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Kirkwood  Musical 
College,  and  for  one  year  was  instructor  in  music 
in  Westfield  College  of  Illinois.  She  is  now  teach- 
ing privately  at  her  leisure.  William  F.,  the  only 
son,  was  for  three  years  a  student  in  Eureka  Col- 
lege, and  is  now  studying  law  in  his  father's  of- 
fice. The  younger  members  of  the  family  are, 
Mabel,  Fannie  M.  and  Lotta  L.,  who  are  still  at 
home.  The  parents  and  their  three  elder  children 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  this  community. 

On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Johnson  joined 
the  Republican  party,  with  which  he  affiliated  un- 
til 1882,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  supporter 
of  the  Prohibition  principles.  In  1876  he  was  a 
candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  Effingham 
County  for  States  Attorney,  and  notwithstanding 
the  overwhelming  Democratic  majority  in  that 
county  he  came  within  thirteen  votes  of  being 
elected.  lie  received  the  compliment  of  being 
nominated  by  the  Prohibition  party  for  Attorney- 
General  of  Illinois,  and  for  Congress,  but,  under 
existing  circumstances,  did  not  win  his  election. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  once  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  but  at  present  is  non- 
affiliated  with  these  fraternities.  He  is  a  member 
in  good  standing  of  Newton  Camp  No.  479, 
M.  W.  A. 

The  firm  of  Gibson  <fc  Johnson,  in  addition  to 
their  extensive  law  practice,  carry  on  the  real-es- 
tate, loan  and  collection  business,  in  which  they 


enjoy  a  most  excellent  reputation  for  fair  dealing, 
promptness  and  reliability.  This  firm  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  legal  fraternity  of  Jasper  County, 
and  takes  rank  among  the  leading  law  firms  of 
southern  Illinois.  Mr.  Johnson  has  devoted  much 
valuable  time  and  means  to  aid  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance, and  is  widely  known  as  an  earnest  and 
influential  supporter  of  temperance  principles.  He 
is  also  an  active  and  prominent  worker  in  the  cause 
of  religion,  and  has  been  a  liberal  contributor  to 
the  support  of  churches  and  religious  work.  He  is 
an  influential  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
has  devoted  much  time  to  the  organization  and 
management  of  Sunday-schools  and  to  church 
business.  He  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school and  an  official  member  of  the  Newton 
Christian  Church  for  many  years.  His  life  is  an 
honorable  and  upright  one,  and  'he  has  the  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact. 


\f|OSEPH  CUMMINS  was  a  well-known  and 
honored  pioneer  of  Jasper  County,  who 
took  up  his  residence  here  in  the  year  1840, 
when  the  county  was  in  its  primitive  con- 
dition, being  but  sparsely  settled.  Our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  occurring  in  the 
Hoosier  State  in  1825.  When  only  a  small  boy  he 
left  the  State  of  his  nativity  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois.  The  family  located  in  Jasper 
County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood,  his  childhood 
being  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads. 
On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Cummins  was 
married.  He  chose  as  a  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey  Miss  Mary  E.  Chapman,  their 
union  being  celebrated  in  January,  1853.  The 
lady  was  born  in  Virginia  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1834,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Nancy 
(Dawson)  Chapman,  who  were  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Jasper  County,  they  having 
located  here  when  Mrs.  Cummins  was  only  about 
four  years  of  age.  Ten  children  were  born  of  the 


256 


PO5TRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  two  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  of  whom  two  died  in  infancy. 
Nancy,  the  eldest,  is  a  successful  teacher  in  the 
Newton  public  schools;  Emma  became  the  wife  of 
George  Van  Treese,  a  representative  farmer  of 
Jasper  County;  Lydia  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Rich- 
ardson, who  is  engaged  in  clerking  in  a  store  in 
Newton;  Lillie  is  the  wife  of  George  Switzer,  a 
contractor  and  builder,  now  residing  in  Michigan 
City,  Ind.;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  Wilbur  Forbes,  a 
practicing  physician  of  New  Orleans,  La.;  Frank  is 
the  owner  of  a  meat  market  in  Newton;  Josephine 
is  still  at  home,  and  Cameron  completes  the  family. 
The  children  all  received  good  educational  privi- 
leges and  were  thus  fitted  for  the  practical  and 
responsible  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  Cummins  held  membership  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church  and  was  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member,  whose  life  was  in  harmony  with  his  pro- 
fessions. He  was  called  to  the  home  prepared  for 
the  righteous  August  13,  1883,  and  his  death  was 
sincerely  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances,  who  held  him  in  high  esteem.  Mr. 
Cummins  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Jasper  County  in 
1873  and  served  four  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  took  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs. 
To  his  energetic  disposition  and  business  ability 
may  be  attributed  his  success  in  life.  He  was  up- 
right and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings,  and  by  his 
well-direced  efforts  he  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competency,  owning  at  his  death  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  this  county.  His  widow  still  resides  on  the 
home  farm,  which  is  situated  on  section  23,  Small- 
wood  Township.  She  is  a  most  estimable  lady  and 
the  Cummins  famity  is  one  of  prominence  in  the 
community. 


>REDERICK  E.  SCHONERT,  a  practical 
and  progressive  farmer  residing  on  section 
20,  Olney  Township,  has  for  many  years 
made  his  home  in  Richland  County,  and  is  num- 
bered among  its  leading  and  influential  citizens. 


Of  German  birth,  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  of  day  in  Saxony,  Germany,  December  24, 
1834.  His  parents,  Godford  and  Catherine  (Shell- 
horn)  Schonert,  were  both  natives  of  the  Father- 
land. The  former  was  a  German  farmer.  They 
became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  six  sons  and 
a  daughter,  one  of  whom  died  in  the  Old  Country 
before  the  death  of  the  mother,  which  also  oc- 
curred in  the  land  of  her  birth.  In  1851  Mr. 
Schonert  bade  adieu  to  his  old  home,  and  with  his 
children  sailed  for  America.  He  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Olney  Township,  Richland  County,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
two  years  later,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  The  children 
still  living  are  Christopher,  a  retired  farmer  of  this 
county;  Frederick  E.,  our  subject;  and  Christian, 
who  follows  farming  in  Wabash  County,  111. 

Mr.  Schonert  whose  name  heads  this  record 
spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  in  German}', 
and  then  accompanied  his  father  on  the  voyage 
across  the  Atlantic,  which  was  made  in  a  sailing- 
vessel  that  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New 
York  after  ten  weeks  spent  upon  the  water.  Be- 
fore coming  to  America,  he  had  learned  the  tail- 
or's trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  six  months  af- 
ter reaching  Richland  County.  Being  obliged  to 
abandon  it  on  account  of  his  health,  he  then  went 
to  live  with  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  remained  un- 
til lie  had  attained  to  man 's  estate.  In  compensa- 
tion for  his  services,  his  employer  then  gave  him 
forty  acres  of  land  and  a  horse.  For  about  a  year 
after  attaining  his  majority,  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  and  was  then  married. 

It  was  on  the  27th  of  November,  1856,  that  Mr. 
Schonert  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Frede- 
ricke  G.  Membell,  who  was  born  in  Saxony,  Ger- 
many, January  19,  1839.  Her  parents,  Andrew  and 
Catherine  Membell,  were  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try, and  emigrated  to  America  on  the  same  ship 
in  which  our  subject  sailed.  After  reaching  Rich- 
land  County,  Mr.  Membell  entered  the  farm  upon 
which  Mr.  Schonert  now  resides,  and  with  his  wife 
there  lived  until  called  to  the  home  beyond.  His 
death  occurred  November  25, 1855, and  Mrs.  Mem- 
bell  passed  away  November  27,  1867.  Their  re- 
mains were  interred  side  by  side  in  the  German 
cemetery.  Seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


257 


(laughters,  grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife.  Catherine,  born  May  20, 1858,  is  the  wife  of 
II.  II.  Jones,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Mary,  born 
July  24,  1860,  is  the  wife  of  Conrad  Kurtz,  who 
follows  the  same  pursuit  in  Richland  County;  the 
next  child  died  in  infancy;  Sarah,  born  April  13, 
1865,  married  John  W.  Gallagher,  also  a  farmer; 
Charles,  born  November  5,  1867;  Eli  G.,  born  July 
25,  1870,  and  Harry  Ed  ward,  born  October  3, 1873, 
are  still  at  home.  The  children  have  been  provided 
with  good  school  privileges  and  are  thus  fitted  for 
the  practical  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schonert  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  farm  and  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  rich  and  valuable  land  situated 
four  and  a-half  miles  southwest  of  Olney.  There 
is  a  neat  residence  and  a  good  barn  upon  the  place 
and  other  modern  improvements.  Mr.  Schonert 
has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life  yet  has  found  time 
to  faithfully  discharge  his  duties  of  citizenship. 
He  served  for  three  terms  as  School  Director  and 
is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Socially,  he  is  connected  witli  Olney  Lodge,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Mutual  Aid.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  his  wife  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  An 
honorable,  upright  man,  he  has  the  respect  of  all 
with  whom  business  and  social  relations  have 
brought  him  in  contact. 


EGRAND  M.  HOUGH,  the  oldest  conductor 
on  tne  Vandalia  Railroad,  now  running 
from  Effingham  to  St.  Louis,  makes  his 
home  in  the  former  city  arid  is  one  of  its  popular 
men.  He  was  born  January  22,  1840,  in  what  is 
now  Gowanda,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  third  in  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter  born  unto 
Edwin  and  Mary  (Ellsworth)  Hough.  Two  of  the 
children  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are  Edwin, 
now  the  publisher  of  the  Saturday  Herald  of  Hor- 
nellsville,  N.  Y.;  Leroy,  who  is  agent  on  the  Santa 
Fe  Railroad  at  Colton,  Cal.;  Charles  F.,  editor  of 


a  newspaper  in  Andover,  N.  Y.;  Millard  F.,  resid- 
ing in  Trenton,  Mo.,  a  conductor  on  the  Rock 
Island  Railroad;  and  Ernest,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Baker  Iron  Company,  of  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

The  father  of  this  family  was  born  in  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  in  1812,  and  there  remained  until  fifteen 
years  of  age.  His  father  was  a  miller  of  the  place. 
At  fifteen,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Batavia,  N.  Y., 
to  learn  the  printer's  trade,  working  for  $25  a 
year  and  board.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  began 
the  publication  of  a  paper  of  his  own  and  continued 
in  that  business  at  different  points  in  the  Empire 
State  until  1867,  when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he 
retired.  He  died  in  1869,  at  Hornellsville,  N.  Y. 
His  wife  was  born  in  18 14,  at  North  Kingston,  R.  I., 
and  when  a  small  child  went  with  her  parents 
to  Wales,  N.  Y.  She  is  still  living  and  makes  her 
home  with  our  subject. 

Mr.  Hough  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  and  during  his  boyhood  spent 
two  years  in  his  father's  printing  office.  He 
remained  under  the  paternal  roof  until  1854,  when 
he  began  working  on  the  New  York  &  Eric  Hail- 
road  and  has  since  followed  the  business  in  which 
he  is  now  engaged.  In  1858,  he  came  West  and 
became  a  news-agent  on  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi 
Railroad.  Later  he  became  brakeman  and  subse- 
quently was  made  conductor.  In  1869,  he  severed 
his  connection  with  that  road  and  became  a 
brakeman  on  the  Vandalia  Road  between  St.  Louis 
and  Chicago,  remaining  on  that  run  till  June,  1870. 
He  then  came  to  Efringham,  and  as  conductor  was 
placed  in  charge  of  a  freight  train  running  from 
this  place  to  East  St.  Louis.  In  November,  1884, 
he  was  made  passenger  conductor  on  the  same  run, 
which  position  he  holds  at  this  writing. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  1868,  Mr.  Hough  mar- 
ried Miss  Caroline  Pulliam,  of  Vincennes,  Ind.,  who 
was  born  March  1,  1848.  She  there  resided  until 
her  marriage.  Three  children  have  been  born  of 
this  union:  Edwin  E.,  Annie  L.  and  Mamie  M. 
The  children  have  all  received  good  educational 
privileges,  having  graduated  from  the  Efflngham 
schools.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  are  highly  respected  citizens,  widely 
known  in  this  community. 

Mr.  Hough  is  a  stanch   Republican  in  his    polit- 


258 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ical  views,  and  socially  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  the  Order  of  Railway  Conductors  of 
Eflingham.  A  genial,  pleasant  gentleman,  he  has 
a  host  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in  this  com- 
munity, who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  many 
excellencies  of  character.  He  owns  a  beautiful 
residence  in  this  city,  and  the  Hough  household  is 
the  abode  of  hospitality. 


JEV.  JOHN  R.  SKINNER,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Newton,  was  born 
in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  in  1845,  and  is  de- 
scended from  one  of  the  early  families  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  The  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  native  of  England,  who,  leaving  that 
country,  emigrated  to  America  during  Colonial 
days.  The  old  homestead  farm  in  Ohio  has  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  more  than  a 
century,  and  is  now  owned  and  occupied  (by  the 
only  paternal  uncle  of  our  subject.  The  latter's 
father  was  William  Skinner,  and  his  grandfather 
bore  the  name  of  Robert  Skinner.  The  former  died 
when  his  son  was  but  four  years  of  age,  after 
which  Mrs.  Skinner,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
married  John  McFillen.  She  is  still  living  and 
makes  her  home  in  De  Kalb  County,  Ind. 

The  Skinner  family  numbered  nine  children, 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  six  sons 
and  a  daughter  are  yet  living.  Stephen  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago;  Robert  resides  in  Kansas;  George 
makes  his  home  near  the  old  farm  in  Ohio;  Will- 
iam is  now  located  in  Wood  County,  Ohio;  John 
R.  is  the  next  younger;  Marion  resides  in  Marshall 
County,  Iowa;  and  the  only  sister,  Amaretta,  is 
the  wife  of  Salathial  Skinner,  of  Portland,  Jay 
County,  Ind. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner  whose  name  heads  this 
record  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  his  native  county.  Dur- 
ing his  minority  his  opportunities  for  securing 
even  the  rudiments  of  an  education  were  very 
limited.  He  early  conceived  the  idea  of  ensjaij- 

*  O     o 


ing  in  ministerial  work,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years  he  entered  Ileidelburg  University,  at 
Tiffin,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  a  select  course  of 
study.  When  he  had  fitted  himself  for  his  chosen 
profession  he  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry in  1873,  his  first  charge  being  in  Winamac, 
Ind.,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  Thence 
he  went  to  Pulaski,  Williamson  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  also  continued  three  years.  At  this 
time  the  death  of  his  father-in-law  called  him  to 
Pulaski,  Ind.,  and  eighteen  months  later  he  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  Thence  he  went  to  Kal- 
amazoo,  Mich.,  being  pastor  of  the  church  at  that 
place  for  about  six  years.  The  continued  ill-health 
of  his  wife  induced  him  to  try  a  more  radical 
change  of  climate,  and  he  accordingly  removed  to 
Kansas,  but  he  spent  only  seven  months  in  that 
State,  after  which  he  went  to  Iowa.  Nine  months 
later  he  became  a  resident  of  Vernon,  Tex.,  soon 
after  which,  his  wife's  health  being  restored,  he 
accepted  a  call  to  his  present  pastorate. 

Mr.  Skinner  was  married  in  Pulaski,  Ind.,  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Good,  a  daughter  of  Ephraim  Good. 
Her  maiden  name  is  an  index  to  her  character, 
and  to  her  husband  she  has  proved  a  true  help- 
mate. Two  sons  have  blessed  their  union,  Elgie 
and  De.  The  church  of  which  Mr.  Skinner  is  now 
pastor  was  one  of  the  earliest  religious  organiza- 
tions in  Jasper  County,  its  history  covering  a 
period  of  over  forty  years.  In  1852  the  Rev. 
Robert  Simpson  removed  to  Jasper  County  from 
a  point  near  Vincennes,  Ind.,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
about  three  miles  southeast  of  Newton.  With  the 
few  Presbyterians  here  at  that  time  an  organiza- 
tion was  effected  and  services  were  held  in  the 
Court  House.  The  original  members  besides  the 
pastor  were  but  three  in  number,  viz.:  Addison 
S.  Harris  and  his  wife,  Henrietta  Harris,  and 
Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Harris.  The  following,  how- 
ever, were  admitted  to  membership  at  the  time  of 
organization:  Joseph  Wilson  and  his  wife,  Anna; 
Robert  Dcltell  and  his  wife,  Dorcas;  Mrs.  Martha 
Maxwell  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Maxwell. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Simpson  continued  10  preach  for 
the  church  until  near  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1860.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


259 


T.  Morgan,  who  also  came  from  Indiana,  and  who 
resided  during  his  pastorate,  which  continued  only 
about  a  year,  in  Newton.  Then  eame  the  Rev. 
K.  P.  Fox,  who  was  also  from  the  Hoosier  State, 
whither  he  returned  at  the  close  of  his  service,  to 
be  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  I.  Venable,  under  whose 
administration  the  present  church  building  was 
erected,  the  dedicatory  services  taking  place  on 
the  19th  of  July,  1868.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Venable 
was  followed  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Chestnut, 
and  the  latter  by  the  Rev.  James  Brownlee. 

In  1877  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Nichols  assumed  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  church,  and  was  followed 
by  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Parks.  His  home  was  at  Neoga, 
and  he  did  not  become  resident  pastor,  but  preached 
to  the  congregation  at  Newton  each  alternate 
Sunday  for  a  considerable  time.  In  1884  the 
Rev.  G.  E.  Sanderson  became  resident  pastor,  and 
remained  for  two  years.  The  church  then  had 
only  occasional  preaching  until  the  coming  of  its 
present  minister.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Skinner  by  his 
faithful  work  and  Christian  example  is  doing 
much  toward  promoting  the  religious  growth,  not 
only  of  his  own  church,  but  of  the  community 
wherever  his  influence  is  felt.  The  society  has 
grown  from  the  three  original  members  mentioned 
above  to  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred, 
and  is  in  a  healthful  and  prosperous  condition. 


1LTON  SIMS,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Jasper  County,  now  resides  on  section  25, 
Willow  Hill  Township,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  His  farm  is 
pleasantly  located  about  two  miles  northwest  of 
the  village  of  Willow  Hill.  His  home  is  a  pleasant 
country  residence,  which  is  supplemented  by  good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  these  in  turn 
are  surrounded  by  broad  fields  of  waving  grain. 
He  owns  three  hundred  acres  of  rich  land,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  the"  care  and  labor  he  has  bestowed 
upon  it. 


The  life  record  of  Mr.  Sims  is  as  follows:  He 
was  born  November  22,  1823,  near  Frankfort,  Ky., 
and  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  five  sons  and  two 
daughters  born  unto  Thomas  and  Lucinda  (Hud- 
son) Sims.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  spent  his  early  life  in  that  State,  but  when  u 
young  man  he  went  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents, 
where  he  was  married  and  lived  until  1842.  He 
served  about  a  year  "in  the  War  of  1812.  In  1842 
he  emigrated  to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  died  in  Indiana  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty. 

Milton  Sims  spent  his  early  life  on  the  farm  with 
his  parents  in  Kentucky,  and  accompanied  them 
on  their  removal  to  Indiana,  remaining  at  home 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  At  that  time  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Priscilla  Harlen, 
of  Rush  County,  Ind.,  their  union  being  celebrated 
February  22,  1849.  The  young  couple  soon  after- 
ward emigrated  to  Jasper  County,  and  Mr.  Sims 
entered  the  tract  of  land  from  the  Government 
which  has  now  been  his  home  for  forty-four  years. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers,  for  the 
county  was  then  in  its  primitive  condition,  the 
work  of  civilization  and  upbuilding  having  been 
scarcely  begun.  Wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  plen- 
tiful, including  deer.  The  family  had  to  endure 
many  of  the  hardships  and  experiences  of  frontier 
life. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sims  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Martha  Ann,  wife  of  James  W.  Johnson,  a 
prosperous  farmer  residing  near  Decatur,  III.; 
William  and  Marion  T.,  who  are  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  this  county.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  April  29,  1859,  and  on  the  26th 
of  March,  1860,  Mr.  Sims  married  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Mitchell,  of  Jasper  Count}-.  They  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  five  j-et  living,  viz.:  Rich- 
ard, a  well-to-do  agriculturist  of  Jasper  County; 
Ida  M.,  wife  of  Wilson  Way,  a  farmer  of  this 
Bounty;  Georgia,  wife  of  William  Raef,  a  tele- 
graph operator  of  Texas;  Nora,  wife  of  David 
Holt,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  and  Lulu,  at  home. 
Mr.  Sims  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
second  wife,  who  died  August  23,  1883.  On  the 
10th  of  September,  1886,  he  was  united  in  mar- 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


riage  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  James  Ireland, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed,  with  two  children,  Laura 
and  Elizabeth. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Sims  is  a  stanch  Dem- 
ocrat. He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors  for  three  terms,  was  Town- 
ship Commissioner  for  twelve  years  and  has  long 
been  one  of  the  School  Directors.  He  always  dis- 
charges his  official  duties  with  promptness  and 
fidelity,  and  has  thus  won  the  commendation  of 
all  concerned.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
Baptist  Church  and  has  led  an  honorable,  upright 
life,  which  has  gained  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. His  long  residence  in  the  county  makes 
him  well  worthy  of  an  honored  place  among  its 
pioneer  settlers. 


§APT.  C.  D.  KENDALL,  of  Newton,  is  one 
of  the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of 
Jasper  County.  A  native  of  Erie  County, 
Pa.,  he  was  born  in  1837,  and  is  of  New  England 
ancestry.  His  parents  were  Cyrus  and  Lucy 
(Aubrey)  Kendall.  Both  were  natives  of  Orange 
County,  Vt.,  but  with  their  respective  families 
they  went  to  the  Keystone  State.  The  father  was 
of  English  descent,  and  the  mother,  as  her  name 
indicates,  was  of  French  lineage.  Cyrus  Kendall 
died  in  Pennsylvania  in  1844,  and  his  wife,  who 
survived  him  for  a  number  of  years,  passed  away 
in  Fayette  County  in  1861.  They  had  a  family 
of  six  children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  but  our 
subject  and  a  younger  brother  are  now  the  only 
living  representatives  of  the  family.  The  latter, 
Dr.  John  M.  Kendall,  is  a  resident  of  Shelby  Cotin- 

ty,  111. 

In  1853,  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age, 
Capt.  Kendall,  accompanied  by  his  mother,  came  to 
Illinois  and  taught  school  for  a  number  of  terms 
in  Fayette  and  Clay  Counties.  lie  continued  to 
make  his  home  in  the  former  county  until  the 


spring  of  1860,  when  he  went  to  Louisville,  Clay 
County,  and  entered  the  law  office  of  W.  W.  Bishop. 
There  he  pursued  the  study  of  law,  intending 
to  enter  the  legal  profession,  and  took  an  examin- 
ation for  admittance  to  the  Bar,  which  he  success- 
fully passed,  but  before  his  diploma  was  received 
he  had  resolved  to  enter  the  military  service  of  his 
country,  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  having  already 
begun.  The  date  of  his  enlistment  was  May  2, 
1861.  He  was  among  the  first  to  enlist,  yet  it  was 
found  that  the  quota  of  Illinois,  under  the  call  of 
President  Lincoln,  was  full,  and  accordingly  he 
with  others  was  accredited  to  Missouri,  and  became 
a  member  of  Company  D,  Eleventh  Regiment  of 
Missouri  Volunteers.  Mr.  Kendall  was  soon  made 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  of  the  regiment  on  the 
non-commissioned  staff,  and  immediately  after  the 
siege  of  Corinth  was  commissioned  Second  Lieu- 
tenant of  Company  K.  When  the  regiment  vet- 
eranized he  was  made  Captain,  and  served  as  such 
until  about  three  months  before  the  close  of  the 
War,  when  he  became  Quartermaster  of  the  Sec- 
ond Brigade,  First  Division  of  the  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  L.  F.  Hubhard, 
of  Minnesota,  who  was  afterwards  Governor  of 
that  State.  Capt.  Kendall  was  actively  engaged 
in  many  of  the  most  important  events  of  the  war. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Island  No.  10,  the 
siege  and  battle  of  Corinth,  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Vicksburg,  the  battles  of  luka,  Corinth  and 
Nashville,  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Spanish 
Fort  and  Ft.  Blakely.  He  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Corinth  on  October  3,  1862,  and  at  Nash- 
ville, December  16,  1864. 

Returning  home  after  receiving  his  discharge, 
Capt.  Kendall  was  elected  Clerk  of  Clay  County  in 
the  fall  of  1865,  and  served  efficiently  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  four  years.  In  the  autumn  of  1869  he 
embarked  in  merchandising  in  Louisville,  Clay 
County.  Again,  in  January,  1874,  he  was  called 
to  official  duty,  being  elected  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Senate  of  the  Twenty-eighth  General  As- 
sembly. 

Capt.  Kendall  was  flrst  married  on  the  22d  of 
January,  1862,  Miss  Rovilla  C.  Miller,  a  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Abbie  (Sparks)  Miller,  becoming 
his  wife.  She  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  died  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


261 


1875.  leaving  one  son,  who  still  survives  her,  Har- 
ry F.,  a  graduate  of  the  State  University  of  Illinois, 
and  a  lawyer  by  profession,  now  residing  in  Cham- 
paign, 111.  In  1878,  Capt.  Kendall  was  again 
married.  He  married  Mrs.  Susie  Barnes,  widow  of 
Charles  W.  Barnes,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Susan  (McCoy)  Brooks.  They  have  one  child, 
May  E. 

In  1881,  Capt.  Kendall  disposed  of  his  business 
interests  in  Louisville  and  removed  to  Newton. 
He  lias  since  engaged  in  merchandising  in  this 
place,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent 
and  leading  business  men  of  Jasper  County.  lie 
carries  a  full  and  complete  line  of  goods,  and  as  he 
earnestly  desires  to  please  his  customers,  and  is 
upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings  with  the 
public,  lie  has  gained  a  liberal  patronage  and  won 
the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  teen  brought  in  contact.  Mr.  Kendall  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  Jacob  E.  Reed  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
and  is  Post  Commander  of  the  same.  In  his  po- 
litical affiliations  he  is  a  Republican,  and  earnestly 
advocates  the  principles  and  measures  of  that  party, 
having  teen  one  of  its  warm  supporters  since  he 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. Capt.  Kendall  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  twenty-five  years, 
and  has  been  an  active  worker  in  its  interests.  In 
his  country's  hour  of  need  be  was  a  gallant  and 
faithful  soldier,  and  honorably  wore  the  blue  of 
the  Union.  In  times  of  peace  he  is  both  a  success- 
ful business  man  and  an  enterprising  citizen. 

l^i.  °N<  GIDEON  D-  BLANKER,  a  farmer  and 
*^™  insurance  agent  of  Olney,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois  since  1855,  and  has  made 
his  home  in  this  city  since  1864.     He  owns 
a  tine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres,  of 
which  eighteen  acres   lie  within    the  corporation 
limits  of    Olney  and  are  the  site  of   his  residence. 
Mr.  Slanker  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  nativ- 
ity.    He  was  born  in  Easton,  Wayne  County,  Sep- 


tember  26, 1836.and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Matilda 
(Eisher)  Slanker.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Berks  County,  Pa.,  and  came  of  old  families  of 
German  origin.  They  removed  to  Ohio  in  1833, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  the  Buck- 
eye State. 

Our  subject  obtained  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  no  event  of  special 
importance  occurring  during  his  youth.  Leaving 
his  native  State,  he  went  to  Altoona,  Knox  County, 
HI.,  where  he  served  as  a  merchant's  clerk  until 
July,  1862,  when  he  left  that  place  and  went  South. 
In  the  fall  of  1863  he  became  a  resident  of  Lawrence 
County,  and  the  autumn  of  1864  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Olney,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
For  three  years  he  was  here  employed  as  a  sales- 
man in  a  store,  but  since  1868  he  has  engaged  in 
the  insurance  business,  and  in  addition  he  now 
carries  on  farming. 

Mr.  Slanker  was  married  in  Bridgeport,  III., 
June  2,  1864,  to  Miss  Augusta  Klein  want,  a  daugh- 
ter of  GustavusKleinwant  and  a  native  of  Albion, 
Edwards  County,  111.  Unto  them  were  born  two 
children,  a  son  and  daughter,  but  Charles,  the  elder, 
died  October  30,  1887,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years  and  two  months.  The  daughter,  Florence 
L.,  resides  at  home.  The  parents  and  Miss  Florence 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  in  social 
circles  they  rank  high. 

Mr.  Slanker  is  connected  with  the  various  Ma- 
sonic bodies  of  Olney,  being  a  member  of  Olney 
Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Richland  Chapter 
No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  Gorin  Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T.; 
Olney  Council  No.  55;  the  Scottish  Rite;  and  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  of  which  he  is  Past  Potentate.  It 
will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Slanker  has  gained  a  high 
rank  in  Masonic  fraternities,  and  he  is  well  and 
widely  known  among  his  brethren  of  the  order. 
He  takes  considerable  interest  in  political  affairs 
and  votes  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  Mayor,  and  in  1890  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  as  a  member  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
General  Assembly,  representing  the  Forty-fourth 
District,  including  Ridiland,  Clay,  Wayne  and 
Edwards  Counties.  He  served  on  a  number  of  iro- 


262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


portant  committees,  including  the  Committees  on 
Insurance,  Work-houses,  Canals,  River  Transpor- 
tation, State  and  Municipal  Indebtedness  and  the 
Executive  Department.  In  all  public  offices  which 
he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill,  Mr.  Slanker  has  dis- 
charged his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity, 
which  have  won  him  the  commendation  of  all  con- 
cerned. He  is  not  only  a  leader  in  Republican 
circles  in  this  community,  but  in  other  ways  is  a 
man  of  prominence  and  influence.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  and  has  the  high 
regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact. 


VSIAH  PALMER,  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Granville  Township,  Jasper  County, 
residing  on  section  28,  is  the  proprietor  of 
a  large  sawmill.  This  is  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant industries  of  the  community.  The  owner  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been  born  near  Canton, 
Stark  County,  June  17, 1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Jona- 
than and  Rebecca  Palmer.  His  father  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  was  of  English  descent.  His  death 
occurred  in  1856,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
a  number  of  years,  passed  away  in  1880.  Of  their 
six  children,  the  eldest  died  in  infancy;  Osiah  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth;  John  A.  resides  in 
Plymouth,  Ind.;  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Peter 
Braucher,  of  Havana,  N.  Dak.;  Samuel  is  a  planter 
of  Madison,  Ala.;  and  Jonathan  died  in  1891. 

Mr.  Palmer,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  re- 
ceived such  educational  advantages  as  the  district 
schools  afforded,  and  upon  his  father's  farm  was 
reared  to  manhood.  He  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  1859,  when  with  an  ox-team  he  went  to 
Pike's  Peak.  On  the  12th  of  March,  he  left  Ft. 
Leavenworth,  Kan.,  and  on  the  24th  of  May 
reached  the  present  site  of  Denver,  but  the  city 
then  consisted  of  only  a  few  tents  and  probably 
one  or  two  sod  houses.  Mr.  Palmer  saw  Horace 
Greeley  while  there.  He  began  prospecting  and 


remained  in  that  locality  for  about  a  year,  when  he 
and  two  companions  bought  lumber  at  the  cost 
of  $15  per  hundred  feet,  built  a  boat  and  sailed 
down  the  Platte  River  to  Plattsmouth,Neb.,  a  dis- 
tance of  one  thousand  miles,  reaching  the  end  of 
their  journey  ten  days  after  leaving  Denver. 

Later  Mr.  Palmer  worked  his  way  back  to  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  in  cutting  cord 
wood  for  thirty-one  cents  per  cord,  but,  the  war 
having  broken  out,  he  enlisted  November  17, 
1861,  and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp 
Dcnnison  as  a  private  in  the  Third  Ohio  Inde- 
pendent Battery.  His  first  active  engagement 
was  at  Shiloh,  and  later  he  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Corinth,  Raymond,  Clinton,  Jackson, 
Champion  Hills  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
where  for  fortj'-two  days  he  was  under  fire.  He 
then  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Kenesaw  Moun- 
tain, Atlanta  and  Nashville,  after  which  he  went 
to  Ft.  Donelson,  where  he  heard  the  news  of 
President  Lincoln's  assassination.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  as  Sergeant  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  Au- 
gust, 1865. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  the  Buckeye  State, 
Mr.  Palmer  purchased  an  interest  in  a  grocery, 
but  it  was  soon  afterwards  burned,  and  in  1866 
he  went  to  Plymouth,  where  he  carried  on  a 
bakery  establishment  until  1870.  He  then  sold 
out  and  went  to  Madison  County,  Ala.,  where  he 
engaged  in  raising  cotton  for  three  years,  and  in 
1873  returned  to  Princeton,  Ind.  There  he  again 
carried  on  a  bakery  and  restaurant,  and  subse- 
quently was  proprietor  of  a  large  hotel  in  that 
place,  where  he  did  business  until  May,  1886, 
when  he  traded  his  hotel  for  his  sawmill  and 
about  two  hundred  acres  of  land.  lie  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  of  land  and  has 
turned  out  in  one  year  two  million  feet  of  lum- 
ber. He  recently  purchased  a  large  mill  in  Scott 
County,  Mo.,  and  five  hundred  acres  of  good  tim- 
berland.  He  also  carries  on  farming  to  a  limited 
extent. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Palmer  married  Miss  Levina  Kep- 
ler, and  unto  them  were  born  three  children:  Ar- 
thur, Jennie,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  In 
1875  Mr.  Palmer  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Ella  Hossler,  by  whom  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


265 


has  nine  children,  as  follows:  Mary,  Maggie, 
Susan,  Laura, ,  Jessie,  Fred,  James,  Lena  F.  and 
Ruth. 

Mr.  Palmer  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability, 
and  although  he  started  out  in  life  a  poor  bo}',  he 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming 
the  obstacles  and  difficulties  in  his  path  by  a 
determined  will  and  enterprise.  He  is  now  at  the 
head  of  a  large  and  paying  business,  and  he  may 
feel  justly  proud  of  his  success,  which  has  been 
achieved  by  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  socially  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  Such  a  life  as  he  has  led  has  not 
only  won  him  prosperity,  but  has  gained  him  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact. 


ON.  RICHARD  SPRIGG  CANBY,  an  emi- 
nent jurist  of  Illinois,  now  resides  in  Olney, 
and  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  leading 
members  of  the  Richland  County  Bar.  He 
was  born  on  his  grandfather's  farm  in  Greene 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1808,  and 
is  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  Quaker  fami- 
lies of  Pennsylvania.  Thomas  Canby,  the  common 
ancestor  of  all  the  Canbys  in  America,  came  from 
England  to  America  with  William  Penn  in  1683, 
and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  He  obtained  a  tract 
of  land  from  William  Penn,  and  the  deed  of  record 
shows  the  consideration  to  have  been  persecution 
endured  for  conscience'  sake.  Thomas  Canby  had 
been  imprisoned  in  England  on  account  of  his  religi- 
ous views,  he  being  a  Quaker,  and  had  been  released 
under  the  reign  of  James  II.,  but  a  short  time  be- 
fore he  came  to  America.  lie  built  a  mill  on  his 
purchase  and  erected  a  dwelling.  It  is  said  that 
the  old  mill-house  is  still  standing.  Thomas  Canby, 
who  was  twice  married  and  had  seventeen  chil- 
dren, was  born  in  the  town  of  Thorn,  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  1666.  The  name  is  now  extinct  in 

12 


England  but  is  said  to  exist  in  France,  where  tra- 
dition states  that  the  family  originated  and  that 
some  members  were  driven  to  England  in  a  re- 
mote period  by  religious  persecution. 

Our  subject  traces  his  genealogy  from  Thomas 
Canby  as  follows:  Thomas  Canby  had  a  son  Ben- 
jamin, who  lived  and  died  in  the  original  settle- 
ment in  Pennsylvania.  He  had  a  son  Samuel, 
whose  son  Joseph  was  born  in  Loudoun  County, 
Va.,  in  1781,  and  married  Lydia  Pedrick  in  the 
Quaker  meeting-house  in  January,  1807,  after 
the  peculiar  marriage  ceremony  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  He  died  in  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
in  February,  1843.  His  wife  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  1787,  and  died  in  Lebanon,  Warren 
County,  Ohio,  in  August,  1816.  Four  children 
were  born  unto  Joseph  and  Lydia  Canby,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters.  Anna  married  Mr. 
Kitchen;  Hannah  became  the  wife  of  John  Evans, 
Governor  of  Colorado;  Samuel  died  in  infancy; 
and  Richard  Sprigg  completes  the  family. 

The  last-named  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
passed  his  childhood  and  youth  on  the  farm  and 
was  educated  partly  in  Oxford,  Butler  Countj', 
Ohio.  On  the  16th  of  March,  1835,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Bellefontaine,  Logan  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Eliza,  a  daughter  of  Oliver  Simpson.  The  lady  was 
a  native  of  Ross  County.  Ten  children  were  born 
of  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Elizabeth, 
born  in  1836,  married  Homer  G.  Platz  and  died 
leaving  one  daughter,  who  married  and  is  the  mo- 
ther of  two  sons.  Lydia  Ann,  born  in  1837,  is  the 
wife  of  T.  W.  Hutchinson,  a  lawyer  of  Olney,  111. 
Oliver  S.  and  Joseph  died  after  attaining  to  man- 
hood. Samuel  died  in  infancy.  Samuel,  the  sec- 
ond of  that  name,  married  Miss  Martha  Bates  and 
is  a  practicing  phj'sician  of  Bonpas  Township, 
Richland  County.  They  have  four  children  liv- 
ing and  four  deceased.  One  of  their  daughters  is 
married  and  has  three  children.  Cornelia  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  E.  Boyles,  of  Clay  City,  Clay  County. 
Richard  S.,  Jr.,  is  deceased.  Benjamin  is  married 
and  is  City  Judge  of  East  St.  Louis,  serving  his 
second  term  in  that  position.  Eliza  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

In  1829  Mr.  Canby  embarked  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  and  while  thus  en- 


266 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gaged  read  law  with  B.  Stanton,  of  that  place.  In 
1840  he  began  the  practice  of  law  and  in  1845  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature.  The  following 
year  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Twelfth 
Ohio  District,  where  he  served  as  Representative 
with  credit  to  himself  and  his  constituents.  When 
his  term  was  over  he  removed  to  a  tract  of  land 
of  one  thousand  acres,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
engaged  in  farming.  Subsequently,  he  removed  to 
Bellefontaine  in  order  to  provide  his  children  with 
better  educational  advantages,  and  there  resided 
until  March,  1863,  when  he  removed  toOlney,  111., 
where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  June,  1867,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  and  served  on  the  bench  for  six  years  with 
distinction.  He  then  resumed  the  practice  of  law, 
from  which  he  retired  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-four years.  Almost  from  the  time  he  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  Mr. 
Canby  was  recognized  as  a  lawyer  of  much  merit, 
possessing  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  won 
an  enviable  reputation  and  was  elected  to  a  num- 
ber of  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  in  which  he 
discharged  his  duties  with  a  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity that  won  him  high  commendation. 

In  1867  Judge  Canby  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  Olneyon  the  14th 
of  January  of  that  year.  In  political  sentiment 
in  early  life  the  Judge  was  a  Whig  but  joined  the 
Republican  party  on  its  organization  in  1854,  and 
since  that  time  until  recent  years  he  has  been  an 
active  and  earnest  supporter  of  that  party. 


REUBEN  HAMILTON,  who  for  many  years 
«  has  been  engaged  in  farming  on  section  17, 
Denver  Township,  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  Indiana  has  furnished  Richland 
County.  He  was  born  in  Gibson  County,  of  the 
Hoosier  State,  February  15,  1830.  His  father,  Asa 
Hamilton,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  during  his 
boyhood  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  where  he  grew 


to  manhood  on  a  farm.  His  father  was  a  wealthy 
tobacco-raiser  and  slave-holder.  A  brother  of  Asa 
served  as  Clerk  of  the  Court  in  Boone  County  for 
forty  years.  In  that  county  Mr.  Hamilton  was 
married,  and  after  a  few  years  his  wife  died,  leav- 
ing three  children.  He  later  removed  to  Gibson 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  wedded  Miss  Margaret 
Mills,  a  native  of  Gibson  County.  In  1831  they 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  on  the  Fox  River  in 
Richland  County.  Their  last  days  were  spent  on 
the  Wabash  River  in  Clay  County.  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  a  great  hunter  and  sportsman,  and  for  this 
reason  enjoyed  his  home  on  the  frontier.  His 
second  wife  died  in  this  county  and  he  was  after- 
wards again  married.  His  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  a  genuine 
pioneer.  Nancy,  the  sister  of  our  subject,  died  in 
Clay  County;  and  Empson,  his  brother,  died  in 
infancy.  There  was  also  a  child  by  the  third 
marriage,  Jesse,  who  lives  in  Indiana. 

Reuben  Hamilton's  earliest  remembrance  is  of 
the  log  cabin  on  Fox  River.  Almost  his  entire 
life  has  been  spent  in  this  locality.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  in  this 
neighborhood  and  since  that  time  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world.  As  a  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Mrs.  Orpha  Jane 
(Evans)  McDade,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
county.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in  1848,  and 
about  two  years  after  their  marriage  they  located 
upon  the  farm  which  has  since  been  their  home. 
The  land  was  covered  with  brush  and  timber,  and 
so  wild  was  the  region  that  deer  were  frequently 
seen  near  the  house.  Mr.  Hamilton  built  a  log 
cabin  and  began  the  improvement  of  his  place.  He 
entered  some  land  from  the  Government,  for  which 
he  paid  in  coon  skins.  He  now  owns  eighty  acres  of 
arable  land  and  a  good  home,  and  is  successful^' 
engaged  in  general  farming. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton  were  born 
three  children.  Allen  and  Isaac  were  twins.  The 
former  married  Eliza  Bacon  and  died  leaving  three 
children.  The  latter  wedded  Eliza  Rexroat  and 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Denver  Township.  Me- 
linda  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

For  many   years  Mr.  and   Mrs.   Hamilton    have 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


267 


been  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  are 
prominent  in  their  support  of  all  worthy  interests. 
Our  subject  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
James  Buchanan  and  supported  the  Democratic 
party  until  1892,  when  he  deposited  a  ballot  for 
Gen.  Weaver.  The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write 
is  one  of  Richland  County's  honored  pioneers. 
Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  here,  covering 
a  period  of  more  than  sixty  years.  He  has  wit- 
nessed the  entire  growth  and  development  of  the 
county,  has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into 
beautiful  homes  and  farms,  its  towns  and  villages 
spring  into  existence,  and  in  the  work  of  prog- 
ress and  development  he  has  borne  his  part.  Flis 
history  is  identified  with  that  of  the  county,  and 
in  its  advancement  he  feels  a  just  pride. 


OI1N  F.  GOOD  ART,  who  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  of  land 
on  sections  26  and  35,  was  born  in  Wabash 
County,  111.,  near  Friendsville,  January  4, 
1842,  and  is  the  only  child  of  Gotlieb  and  Mary 
(Oman)  Goodart,  the  former  a  native  of  Ger- 
many and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father 
of  our  subject  was  a  weaver  by  trade.  In  1832  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  in  a  sailing-vessel. 
It  took  three  months  to  make  the  voyage,  and  be- 
fore they  reached  their  destination  the  provisions 
were  all  consumed.  At  length  they  landed  in 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Goodart  first  located  near 
Zanesville,  Ohio.  He  was  a  poor  boy,  without 
money  or  friends,  and  was  dependent  upon  his 
own  exertions  for  a  livelihood.  He  first  provided 
for  his  own  maintenance  by  working  on  a  canal. 

In  1839  Mr.  Goodart  left  Ohio,  and  went  to 
Wabash  County,  Ind.,  where  he  worked  in  a  castor- 
oil  factory  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1842  he  re- 
moved to  Marion  County,  and  spent  about  a  .year 
near  Salem.  Going  to  Hancock  County,  111.,  he 
located  near  the  present  site  of  Hamilton,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  until  the  autumn  of  1848, 
when  he  came  to  Richland  County,  and  located  in 


Noble  Township.  Here  he  entered  eighty  acres  of 
Government  land  on  section  26,  paj'ing  the  regular 
price  of  $1.25  per  acre,  and  after  the  erection  of  a 
log  cabin,  16x20  feet,  began  the  development  of  a 
farm.  In  that  home  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  September  5,  1866.  He  was  laid 
to  rest  in  Elaine  Cemetery  in  Richland  County, 
where  a  monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory. 
He  had  been  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  but  after  coming  to  this  country  joined 
the  Christian  Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed. In  politics,  he  was  a  Republican.  Mrs. 
Goodart  died  January  31,  1878. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  six  summers  when  with 
his  parents  he  came  to  Richland  County  in  1848. 
He  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  the  farm  which 
is  still  his  home,  and  in  the  summer  months  he 
aided  in  the  labors  of  the  field,  while  in  the  winter 
seasons  he  acquired  an  education  in  the  district 
schools.  He  attended  the  first  school  taught  in 
this  district.  The  building  was  a  log  structure 
and  was  furnished  with  split-log  seats.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  Mr.  Goodart  left  the 
home  where  his  boyhood  and  youth  had  been 
passed  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country,  and  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  B,  Ninety-eighth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  under  Capt.  D.  D.  Marquis.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  Centralia,  and  going  to  the  front, 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Hoover's  Gap,  where 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  thigh  by  a  shell  from 
the  enemy's  guns.  He  was  first  taken  to  the  field 
hospital,  but  on  the  succeeding  day  was  sent  to 
the  hospital  in  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  where  his 
wound,  a  very  serious  one,  confined  him  from 
June  24,  1863,  until  February  25,  1865.  On  that 
date  he  received  an  honorable  discharge  from  the 
service. 

Mr.  Goodart  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Noble 
Township.  His  father  died  the  following  year  and 
he  then  toofc  charge  of  the  farm,  wlfich  he  has 
since  owned  and  operated.  He  now  has  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  acres  of  land,  which  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  he  also  raises  a 
good  grade  of  stock. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  1865,  Mr.  Goodart  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Wheeler,  a 
daughter  of  Wasson  and  Annie  Wheeler.  Nine 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


children  were  born  of  their  union,  but  four 
are  now  deceased,  namely:  Sarah,  the  eldest,  and 
Oscar,  Mary  and  Sidney,  who  were  the  fourth, 
fifth  and  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Those  still  liv- 
ing are  Annie,  Ira,  Nora,  Roy  and  Bessie. 

As  every  true  American  citizen  should  do,  Mr. 
Goodart  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  political 
affairs  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of 
the  day.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  the  honors  of  public  office.  Soci- 
ally, he  is  connected  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  Richland 
County,  and  as  one  of  its  early  settlers,  he  has 
witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and  development. 
During  the  forty-five  years  of  his  residence  here  he 
gained  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
and  for  his  sterling  worth  is  held  in  high  regard. 


PRANK  D.  RICHARDSON,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Wade  Township,  Jasper 
County,  residing  on  section  16,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  community  since  1869.  He  was 
born  in  Warren  County,  Ohio,  January  10,  1838. 
His  father,  Nathan  Richardson,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  as  was  also  his  grandfather,  Asa 
Richardson.  The  latter  removed  with  his  family 
to  Ohio  in  1794.  He  afterward  started  on  a  trip 
to  New  Orleans,  but  as  no  trace  of  him  could  ever 
be  found,  lie  is  supposed  to  have  been  murdered. 
Nathan  Richardson  went  with  his  parents  to  the 
Buckeye  State,  but  afterward  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts with  his  mother  and  remained  with  her 
until  a  lad' of  twelve  years.  He  then  "went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  which  at  that  time  was  a  village.  His 
father  had  purchased  land  in  that  vicinity,  which 
tract  is  now  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  Nathan  Rich- 
ardson there  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  early  life 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
for  some  time.  Removing  to  Lebanon  he  there  fol- 
lowed carpentering.  He  married  Rebecca  Boothby, 


a  daughter  of  Esquire  Boothby,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Ohio,  who  removed  to  that  State  from 
New  Jersey.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Richardson 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Warren  County,  where  he 
reared  his  family  and  spent  the  last  years  of  his 
life.  His  death  occurred  about  1863.  His  wife 
survived  him  for  a  number  of  years  and  passed 
away  in  1879,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine 
years. 

Frank  D.  Richardson  is  the  youngest  of  a  family 
of  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  grew  to  ma- 
ture years.  Two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet 
living:  Dr.  N.  8.,  a  practicing  physician  of  Ma- 
con  City,  Mo.;  Nancy,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  G.  Brant, 
of  Springfield,  Ohio;  Martha  and  Frank. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads.  He  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  National  Normal  at  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  completing  a  course  in  the  latter  institution 
in  1858.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  school  in 
Warren  County,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois  he 
also  taught  for  several  terms.  On  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, 1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
E.  A.  Weir,  a  native  of  Warren  County,  and  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Sarah  Weir,  who  are  num- 
bered among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  locality. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  union:  Ma- 
mie, wife  of  Frank  S.  Shup,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  volume;  and  Jessie,  wife  of  J.  C. 
Davidson,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Wade  Township. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Richardson  enlisted  in 
the  service  of  his  country  in  the  spring  of  1864 
as  a  member  of  the  Thirteenth  Ohio  Cavalry.  He 
joined  his  command  at  Petersburgh,  Va.,  and  re- 
mained at  the  front  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  never  wounded,  but  was  injured  by  the 
fall  of  his  horse  and  permanently  disabled.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private,  but  bravery  and  meritorious 
conduct  won  for  him  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
First  Lieutenant.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  and  was  discharged  from  the  service  in 
August,  1865. 

After  his  discharge  Mr.  Richardson  returned  to 
his  home  in  Ohio,  and  there  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1869,  when  he  came  to  Jasper  County, 
111.  He  located  on  land  which  he  had  previously 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


269 


purchased,  and  which  has  since  been  his  home. 
He  first  bought  three  hundred  acres,  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  the  home  farm  and  twenty 
acres  of  timber  in  another  tract.  He  broke  and 
fenced  the  entire  amount  and  opened  up  a  farm, 
which  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  It  is  pleasantly  and  conveniently 
located,  and  is  one  of  the  valuable  and  desirable 
farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Richardson  has  since 
purchased  other  lands,  and  has  improved  another 
farm,  and  is  numbered  among  the  leading  and 
progressive  agriculturists  of  Jasper  County. 

Our  subject  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in 
politics,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office, 
preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  has  sup- 
ported each  Presidential  nominee  of  the  Republi- 
can party  since  that  time.  He  is  a  warm  advocate 
of  Republican  principles.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Newton  Grand  Army  Post.  He  was  a 
faithful  soldier  to  his  country  during  the  late  war, 
and  is  alike  true  to  every  duty  of  citizenship  and  to 
every  private  trust.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Richardson  is  the  abode  of  hospitality.  They  are 
highly  esteemed  for  their  many  excellencies  of 
character,  and  in  social  circles  they  hold  an  envi- 
able position. 


.*— T— ®:j 


IX  GARNIER,  of  Newton,  is  a  repre- 
sentative  of  one  of  the  early  families  of 
/,  Jasper  County.  He  is  a  son  of  Francis 
Gamier,  who  was  born  in  the  department  of  Haute- 
Saone,  France,  1802.  On  attaining  to  man's  es- 
tate he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Annettie 
Prudent.  For  a  i. umber  of  years  he  was  in  the 
French  army,  and  on  retiring  from  the  service  was 
appointed  to  the  position  of  Forester  by  virtue  of 
his  military  service.  In  1845  he  left  his  native 
land  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic,  accompanied 
by  his  family,  consisting  of  five  children.  They 
first  settled  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,and  ten  years 


later  came  to  Jasper  County,  locating  upon  a  farm 
in  Wade  Township,  about  three  and  a-half  miles 
west  of  Newton.  A  part  of  the  old  homestead  is 
still  in  possession  of  members  of  the  family.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  in  Ohio,  after  which 
the  father  was  twice  married.  He  outlived  his 
third  wife  and  passed  his  last  years  with  his  chil- 
dren. His  death  occurred  at  the  home  of  his  son 
Felix  in  Newton,  December  31,  1875,  in  the  sev- 
enty-fourth year  of  his  age.  As  stated,  he  was  a 
soldier  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  French  army, 
and  as  such  visited  a  number  of  European  coun- 
tries. He  was  esteemed  as  an  honest  and  upright 
citizen. 

The  family  which,  as  before  stated,  numbered 
five  children,  three  ^sons  and  two  daughters,  has 
not  been  broken  by  death.  Amelia,  the  eldest,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Shepherd,  and  resides  upon 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead  farm.  Felix  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth.  Sebastian  and  John  are 
twins.  The  former  resides  near  Newton  and  the 
latter  in  California.  Adelia  "is  the  wife  of  A.  J. 
Woods,  of  Newton,  and  is  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  France  but  at  an  early 
age  he  left  that  country  and  came  with  his  parents 
to  America.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  on  the 
home  farm,  but  he  determined  to  follow  some  other 
pursuit  than  that  of  agriculture  and  so  learned  the 
trade  of  a  blacksmith  in  Millersburgh,  the  county 
seat  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio.  He  had  just  en- 
tered manhood  when  he  came  with  his  father's 
family  to  Jasper  County.  For  about  twenty-one 
years  he  was  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in  Newton, 
but  many  years  ago  he  abandoned  that  occupation 
and  has  since  been  a  dealer  in  agricultural  imple- 
ments. He  handles  all  kinds  of  farm  machinery, 
wagons,  etc.,  keeps  on  hand  a  large  stock,  and  has 
built  up  a  large  trade.  Fair  and  honorable  in  all 
his  dealings,  he  has  secured  the  confidence  of  his 
patrons  and  their  high  esteem. 

In  1863  Mr.  Gamier  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  Rae,who  was  born  in  Jasper  County, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Rae,  one  of  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  this  county.  Her  birth  occurred 
June  1,  1844.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gamier  have 
been  born  eight  children,  three  sons  and  five 


270 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


daughters,  as  follows:  Eulalia,  John,  F"abian,  Mary, 
Clara,  Felix,  Bessie  and  Annettie. 

Mr.  Gamier  has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper  County 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty-eight  years.  He  re- 
members well  its  appearance  in  those  early  days, 
when  much  of  the  land  was  a  wilderness,  the 
work  of  improvement  having  been  scarcely  be- 
gun. He  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  county,  has  been  for  many  years  one  of  the 
representative  business  men  of  Newton,  and  has 
ever  possessed  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


-^SI/C-^_ 


H.  HAWKINS,  a  well-known  farmer  whose 
home  is  on  section  5,  Decker  Township, 
Richland  County,  is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier 
State.  The  place  of  his  birth  is  in  Gibson 
County,  and  the  date  of  that  event  1825.  His 
father,  Henry  Hawkins,  was  born  in  Tennessee  and 
after  his  marriage  to  Martha  Hill  removed  to  Union 
County,  Ind.,  where  in  the  midst  of  the  forest 
he  developed  a  good  farm.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
passed  away  many  years  ago.  In  religious  belief 
he  was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian  and  took  great 
interest  in  church  work.  He  exercised  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  Democratic  party.  The 
Hawkins  family  comprised  the  following  children: 
James  J.,  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Thomas,  of  St.  Jo- 
seph, Mo.;  Margaret,  deceased;  S.  H.,  of  this 
sketch;  David,  who  died  in  Missouri;  Clara,  wife 
of  William  Montgomery,  of  Decker  Township; 
Eliza  E.,  whose  home  is  in  Union  County,  Ind.; 
and  William  Berry,  deceased. 

Swinging  the  axe  and  cradle,  attending  the  sub- 
scription schools,  and  enjoying  the  pleasures  which 
are  found  on  the  frontier,  Mr.  Hawkins  of  this 
sketch  spent  his  boyhood.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
years  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he  bought  land  and  began  fanning  in  the  county 
of  his  nativity,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
removal  to  Illinois.  Ere  leaving  he  was  united 


in  marriage  with  Margaret  Montgomery,  who  died 
in  Indiana,  leaving  five  children,  Jane,  John, Sam- 
uel, David  and  Martha,  all  of  Decker  Township. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Hawkins  wedded  Mrs. 
Ansor,  and  after  her  death  he  was  married  in  No- 
vember, 1888,  to  Mrs.  Van  Matre,  daughter  of 
John  and  Gertrude  (Lewis)  Hazelton.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  removed  to  Clay  County,  111., 
with  her  parents,  who  there  spent  the  remainder 
of  their  lives.  In  that  county  Miss  Hazelton  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Van  Matre,  and  unto  them 
was  born  a  daughter,  Jennie  May,  wife  of  Jake 
Patterson, of  Clay  County.  Her  first  husband  was 
killed  in  the  army.  He  served  for  three  years  in 
the  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry  and  lost  his 
life  at  the  battle  of  Selma,  where  so  many  of  the 
company  were  killed. 

Mr.  Hawkins  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  contribute  liberally  to 
its  support,  and  in  all  possible  ways  aid  in  its 
upbuilding.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education  and  has  done  much  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  schools.  He  cast  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  Lewis  Cass  and  has  since  been  a  warm 
advocate  of  Democracy.  Throughout  his  entire 
life  he  has  followed  the  occupation  of  farming, and 
now  owns  an  excellent  farm,  although  it  is  a  small 
one  of  only  forty  acres.  It  formerly  comprised 
two  hundred  acres,  but  he  has  generously  given 
the  remainder  to  his  children.  His  life  has  been  a 
busy  one  and  the  success  which  crowns  untiring 
and  well-directed  efforts  has  come  to  him  in  the 
shape  of  a  competence,  which  now  provides  him 
with  the  comforts  of  life. 


y~>ILLIAM  R.  WAXLER  is  the  owner  of  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  Richland  County. 
„   „      It  is  situated  on  section  21,  Madison  Town- 
ship, and  comprises  three  hundred  and  forty-four 
acres  of    the  best    land   on    Sugar    Creek    Prairie. 
Almost  the    entire  amount    is    under   cultivation 
and    the    rich    and    fertile    fields    give    evidence 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


271 


of  the  Industry  and  intelligence  of  the  owner. 
His  present  fine  residence,  one  of  the  best  coun- 
try homes  in  the  county,  was  huilt  in  1891. 
Upon  the  farm  are  also  good  barns  and  out- 
buildings, well-kept  fences,  the  latest  improved 
machinery  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 
Mr.  Waxier  devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  to 
stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  the  breeding 
of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Merino  sheep.  He  is  a 
man  of  excellent  business  ability,  and  in  the  line 
to  which  he  devotes  his  energies  he  has  won  a  well- 
merited  success. 

Our  subject  was  born  near  Chandlersville,  Ohio, 
February  19,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  A.  Wax- 
ier. His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  and  of  German  descent.  The  father 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  lie  died  in  Zanesville, 
Ohio,  August  15,  1861.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Tabitha  Ayers,  died  April  7,  1857. 
They  had  a  family  of  three  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  is  William.  John  C.  is  now  a  grain-dealer 
of  Oriska,  S.  Dak.;  and  Anna  B.  is  the  wife  of  L.  B. 
Bacon,  of  Chrisman,  111. 

On  the  death  of  his  mother,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  our  subject  left 
home  and  began  life  as  a  shepherd  boy.  After  his 
father's  death  he  became  the  guardian  and  support 
of  his  brother  and  sister.  When  the  war  broke  out 
lie  was  anxious  to  aid  his  country,  and  on  the  lltli 
of  November,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Sev- 
enty-eighth Ohio  Infantry.  After  his  first  term 
had  expired  he  re-enlisted  under  Capt.  David  C. 
Fowler,  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth 
Ohio  National  Guards,  and  served  one  hundred 
days.  He  afterward  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Thirty -second  Ohio  Infantry,  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  until  his  final  discharge, 
May  11,  1865.  The  first  battle  in  which  he  parti- 
cipated was  at  Ft.  Donelson.  This  was  followed 
by  the  engagements  at  Ft.  Henry,  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, the  Shenandoah  Valley  campaign,  and  the 
battles  of  Monroe  Junction  and  Martinsbnrg.  Af- 
ter his  last  enlistment  he  was  stationed  at  Colum- 
bus. Ohio. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Waxier  resumed 
fanning  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  He  was  in 
the  employ  of  one  man  between  the  ages  of  four- 


teen and  twenty-two,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  spent  in  the  army.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  he 
came  to  Richland  County  and  settled  in  Madison 
Township,  renting  a  farm  until  he  was  able  to 
purchase. 

Mr.  Waxier  was  married  June  7,  1866,  to  Ama- 
rilla,  daughter  of  Jesse  Hendershott,  of  Norwich, 
Ohio.  Four  children  have  been  born  unto  them: 
Fred,  Nellie,  Harry  and  Frank.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Waxier  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  belief  is 
a  Methodist.  To  his  own  industry  and  good  man- 
agement is  the  success  of  his  life  due.  He  started 
out  empty-handed  but  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence. 


H.  IIARDIEK  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  of  Teutopolis,  and 
one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  is  proprietor 
of  the  largest  general  merchandise  estab- 
lishment in  the  place  and  also  of  a  large  lumber 
yard.  As  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  is  very 
favorably  known,  we  take  pleasure  in  presenting 
this  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers.  He  was  born 
in  Hanover,  Germany,  May  8,  1842,  and  is  a  son 
of  Herman  and  Gertrude  (Wenke)  Hardiek,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  same  country.  The  mother 
died  in  that  land.  The  father  came  to  America  in 
1864,  and  here  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life,  passing  away  December  6,  1877.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  the  Catholic  Cemetery  of  Teut- 
opolis. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  under  the  parental  roof,  remaining  at  home 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  determined 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  America.  He  accordingly 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  made  his  first  location  in 
Teutopolis,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  only 
had  $5  left  after  paying  for  his  passage  and  gave 
that  to  some  fellow-passengers  whom  he  thought 
worse  off  than  himself.  Thus  he  arrived  here  lit- 
erally penniless,  and  has  worked  his  wa}-  upward 
to  a  position  of  affluence.  His  first  work  was  as  a 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farm  hand.  For  a  year's  service  he  received  $60, 
and  of  this  he  sent  $50  to  bring  his  sister  to 
America.  After  two  years  spent  in  the  employ  of 
others,  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself,  until  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
at  this  place. 

In  September,  1865,  Mr.  Hardiek  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Katie  Bunker,  and  by  their 
union  were  born  thirteen  children,  seven  sons  and 
six  daughters,  of  whom  seven  are  now  deceased. 
The  living  are,  Barney,  John,  Katie,  Joseph,  Annie 
and  Leo,  all  of  whom  are  still  with  their  parents. 
The  family  occupies  an  enviable  position  in  social 
circles  and  the  household  is  the  abode  of  hospital- 
ity. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hardiek  is  a 
Democrat.  Himself  and  family  are  all  members  of 
the  German  Catholic  Church.  As  before  stated, 
our  subject  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  merchants 
of  Teutopolis.  He  possesses  excellent  business 
ability,  is  enterprising,  energetic  and  progressive, 
and  by  his  fair  and  upright  dealings  and  his  ear- 
nest desire  to  please  his  customers,  he  has  won  a 
liberal  patronage.  His  trade  has  constantly  in- 
creased from  the  beginning  until  it  has  now  assumed 
extensive  proportions.  Mr.  Hardiek  may  truly  be 
called  a  self-made  man,  for  his  success  is  due  en- 
tirely to  his  own  efforts,  having  been  achieved  by 
good  management  and  industry.  In  the  affairs  of 
the  city  he  bears  a  prominent  part  and  manifests  a 
commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding. 


AVID  P.  OCHS,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  22.  Fox  Township, 
Jasper  County,  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  German  Township,  Richland  County, 
December  30,  1854.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Weeler)  Ochs,  were  both  natives  of  Germany. 
When  six  years  of  age,  the  father  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  America,  landing  in  New  York  City  after 


a  voyage  of  several  weeks.  This  was  in  1829. 
He  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  married  and  lived  un- 
til 1845,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  making  the 
journey  by  team.  Becoming  a  resident  of  Rich- 
land  County,  he  located  in  German  Township, 
upon  land  which  he  entered  from  the  Government. 
To  the  development  and  improvement  of  that  tract 
he  devoted  his  time  and  attention  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1888.  His  wife  had  passed  away 
seven  years  previous,  dying  in  1881.  They  had  a 
family  of  ten  children :  Daniel,  who  died  December 
7,  1892;  Joseph,  Mary,  Henry,  Frank,  Ambrose, 
Theodore,  David,  Elizabeth  and  Josephine. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  record.  Upon  the 
farm  where  he  was  born  he  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth,  and  was  early  inured  to  the  hard 
labors  of  farm  life.  In  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  he  acquired  his  education.  Re- 
maining with  his  father  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  the  latter  then  gave  him  a  team  of  horses 
and  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  for  two 
years  renting  land  in  Richland  County. 

During  that  period,  Mr.  Ochs  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  Shulte.  Their  union, 
which  was  celebrated  in  1877,  has  been  blessed 
with  nine  children,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one 
who  died  in  infancy,  all  are  yet  under  the  paren- 
tal roof.  Those  living  are  Nancy,  Martin,  Eph- 
raim,  Augustus,  Louisa,  Edward,  Theodore  and 
Franz;  Andrew  is  deceased,  as  before  stated. 

Mr.  Ochs  continued  his  farming  operations  in 
Richland  Count}'  until  1878,  when  he  came  to 
Jasper  County,  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  Fox 
Township.  This  was  an  unimproved  tract,  but  he 
at  once  began  its  development  and  cultivation, 
and  now  rich  and  fertile  fields  take  the  place  of 
the  once  wild  prairie.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm  he 
has  also  extended,  until  to-day  it  comprises  one 
hundred  and  ninety-two  acres  of  well-improved 
and  valuable  land.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing he  carries  on  stock-raising.  Although  he  has 
led  a  busy  life,  Mr.  Ochs  has  found  time  to  devote 
to  public  interests  and  has  served  as  Township 
Clerk  and  School  Director.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Democracy.  He  has  also  been  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


Trustee  in  the  Catholic  Church,  with  which  he 
holds  membership.  Whatever  success  he  has  met 
with  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  He 
began  life  with  no  capital,  yet  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward,  and  now  has  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence. 


OATHAN  THOMAS  is  engaged  in  farming 
on  section  5,  town  6,  Wade  Township,  Jas- 
,_,  per  County.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  thrifty  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity, and  owns  eighty  acres  of  arable  land, 
pleasantly  situated  about  four  miles  from  Newton. 
When  he  came  into  possession  of  it  it  was  a  wild 
and  unimproved  tract,  but  he  fenced,  plowed  and 
planted  the  land,  and  soon  had  the  entire  amount 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  It  is  furnished 
with  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm,  including 
a  neat  and  substantial  residence,  good  barns  and 
other  outbuildings,  and  an  orchard,  etc.  The  neat 
and  well-kept  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the 
practical  and  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner,  and 
the  improvements  thereon  stand  as  a  monument  to 
his  enterprise. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ind., 
May  5,  1826.  The  family  is  of  English  origin, 
and  was  early  established  in  South  Carolina  in  Col- 
onial days.  The  grandfather,  Edward  Thomas, 
was  a  young  man  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  was  pressed  into  the  British  service  as  a  team- 
ster, lie  afterwards  became  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Ohio,  there  reared  his  family,  and  died 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Elihu 
Thomas,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  and  with  his  parents  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Jane  Van 
Neeten,  a  native  of  that  State  and  a  daughter  of 
John  Van  Neeten,  who  was  of  Scotch  descent.  Elihu 
Thomas  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  after  his  re- 
moval with  his  family  to  Indiana  about  1836,  he 
followed  farming  for  thirty  years.  In  1865,  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Jasper 


County,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  He  died  in 
March,  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years.  He 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dying  in  this  coun- 
ty in  1869,  and  his  second  wife  in  1888. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  five  sons 
and  four  daughters.  The  next  younger  is  Phineas, 
a  farmer  of  Wayne  County,  Ind.  Elijah  is  now  de- 
ceased, as  is  also  Naoma.  Lewis  S.  served  through 
the  late  war  as  a  member  of  the  Fift3r-seventh 
Indiana  Infantry;  he  afterwards  resided  in  Jas- 
per County,  111.,  for  a  year,  and  then  was  engaged 
in  business  in  Olney  for  a  year,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Kansas,  and  became  a  resident  of  Ft. 
Scott.  Wesley  E.  was  a  soldier  of  the  Fifty-sev- 
enth Indiana  Infantry,  and  gave  his  life  in  defense 
of  the  Union,  being  killed  at  Chattanooga.  Ruth 
•  is  the  wife  of  Ben  F.  Britton,  of  Jasper  County. 
Nannie  is  the  wife  of  G.  V.  Vanderhoof,  of  New- 
ton, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity,  Nathan  Thomas  was  reared  to  manhood. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools, 
and  he  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  majority.  During  that  time  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  afterwards  followed  in 
Wayne  and  Grant  Counties,  Ind.,  for  about  seven 
years.  He  then  settled  upon  a  farm  in  the  former 
county,  and  was  engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  some 
time.  In  1865,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Jasper  County,  where  he  rented 
land  for  a  few  years,  and  then  purchased  the  tract 
on  which  he  now  makes  his  home. 

Mr.  Thomas  was  first  married  in  Wayne  County, 
Ind.,  February  6,  1848,  to  Miss  Margaret  Jennings, 
a  native  of  Wayne  County,  and  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Jennings.  Her  death  occurred  in  Indiana, 
September  10,  1864.  Three  children  were  born  of 
that  union.  W.  H.  and  James  M.  are  both  farmers 
of  Jasper  County,  and  Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Payne  of  the  same  county.  Mr.  Thomas  was 
married  May  4,  1869,  to  Harriet  E.  Cowman,  who 
was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ind.,  and  was  reared 
in  Cumberland  County,  this  State.  Her  father, 
Samuel  Cowman,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Il- 
linois. Five  children  were  born  of  this  union: 
Samuel  Elmer,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  Charles  W.,  attending  school;  Ella  D. 


274 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  Eva,  twins;  and  a  daughter,  Lillie  M.,  who  ! 
died  in  March,  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 
For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  Mr.  Thomas 
has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper  County,  and  dur- 
ing these  many  years  he  has  become  not  only 
widely  but  favorably  known.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  uprightness,  well  worthy  of  emulation.  In 
politics  he  was  in  early  life  a  Whig.  In  1856  he 
voted  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  supported  the  Re- 
publican party  for  some  time,  but  is  now  inde- 
pendent, voting  for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best 
qualified  to  fill  the  office. 


DECK,  who  is  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Jasper  County,  and  is 
one  of  its  representative  farmers,  resides  on 
section  27,  Small  wood  Township.  He  was 
born  in  Oberlin,  Ohio,  March  30, 1840.  His  parents 
were  John  E.  and  Mercy  M.  (Mattoon)  Deck.  The 
father  was  born  in  the  F^mpire  State  in  1810,  and 
was  a  wagon-maker  by  trade.  He  was  married  in 
New  York,  and  then  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  for  several  years,  after  which  he  became 
a  resident  of  Olney,  111.  This  was  in  1846.  There 
he  built  a  wagon-shop  and  engaged  in  business  in 
that  line  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  about 
the  age  of  fifty  years.  His  wife  was  born  in  Wales 
in  1812.  Her  mother  died  when  she  was  quite 
young,  and  Mrs.  Deck  went  to  live  with  an  aunt, 
with  whom  she  came  to  America.  She  died  in 
Maxberg,  111.,  January  18, 1893.  Unto  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  four  children,  three  sons  and  a 
daughter. 

Harrison  Deck,  the  eldest,  was  about  six  years 
of  age  when  his  parents  left  the  Buckeye  State 
and  took  up  their  residence  in  Olney,  111.  In  its 
public  schools  he  acquired  a  good  education.  Af- 
ter the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  he  responded 
to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting  Decem- 
ber 1,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Sixty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until 


July  30,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 
He  did  duty  as  wagon-master,  and  was  injured  by 
a  wagon  running  over  his  right  foot  as  they  were 
going  to  the  battlefield  of  Lookout  Mountain. 
Mr.  Deck  also  had  two  brothers  in  the  service, 
Henry  and  Samuel  C.  The  former  is  now  proof- 
reader in  the  Times  office  of  Chicago,  and  the  lat- 
ter is  a  prominent  resident  and  the  owner  of  a 
sawmill  in  New  Burnside,  111. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  service, 
Mr.  Deck  returned  to  Lawrence  County,  111.,  where 
he  operated  a  rented  farm  for  a  year.  He  then 
went  to  Tennessee,  and  was  foreman  of  a  cotton 
plantation  for  one  year.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  he  came  to  Jasper  County,  where  he 
rented  land  for  four  years,  and  then  bought  eighty 
acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  which  he  has  since  trans- 
formed into  a  valuable  farm.  Its  well-tilled  fields 
and  good  improvements  indicate  his  thrift  and 
enterprise,  and  the  place  is  one  of  the  best  country 
homes  in  this  locality. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1860,  Mr.  Deck  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Parthenia  Ann,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  FJizabeth  (Lutze)  Stauffer,  early  set- 
tlers of  Richland  County,  her  father  having  built 
the  second  house  in  Olney.  She  was  born  in  that 
city,  June  4,  184'2.  Five  children  have  graced 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Harrison 
is  now  deceased;  Luella  May  resides  in  Marshall- 
town,  Iowa;  William  Henry  is  a  farmer  of  this 
county;  Irvin  F.  and  Myrtie  Mercy  are  at  home. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  December  9,  1887, 
and  on  the  8th  of  September,  1888,  Mr.  Deck  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  RozettaJ.  Snider,  who 
was  born  May  16,  1855,  in  Hendrix  County,  Ind., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Silas  S.  and  Catherine  (Spen- 
cer) Van  Treece.  The  father  was  born  in  1812, 
in  Kentucky,  and  the  mother  is  a  native  of  Rush 
County,  Ind.  They  now  reside  in  Oklahoma. 
Mrs.  Deck  had  four  children  by  her  former  mar- 
riage: Feudal  B.,  Florence  P.,  Birdie  and  Charles 
W.  A  daughter  has  been  born  of  the  second  union, 
Celia  Etna,  born  August  5,  1890. 

Mr.  Deck,  in  his  political  views,  is  a  Republican. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  highly  respected  citi- 
zens, and  are  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


275 


community.  Mr.  Deck  has  been  the  architect  of 
hie  own  fortunes,  and  his  success  in  life  is  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  well-directed  efforts. 


eHRISTOPHER  FRANKLIN  is  the  owner  of 
a  good  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  Preston  Township,  Richland  County. 
The  tract  of  valuable  land  is  now  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  The 
owner  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing, and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and 
influential  citizens  of  this  community.  Born  in 
Lincolnshire.  England,  November  5,  1824,  he  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Betsy  Franklin,  who  had  a 
family  of  six  children,  namely:  Elizabeth,  James 
(deceased),  William,  George,  Christopher  and  Jane. 
Our  subject  received  quite  limited  educational 
privileges,  but  his  training  at  farm  labor  was  not  so 
meagre.  lie  remained  with  his  parents  until  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  then  began  working  as  a  farm  hand 
by  the  month  in  his  native  land.  It  was  in  1849  that 
he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  America,  and, 
taking  passage  on  a  sailing-vessel,  lie  landed  in 
New  York  City  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and 
three  days.  He  did  not  tarry  long  in  the  Eastern 
metropolis,  but  went  at  once  toMiddletown,  N.  J., 
where  for  about  two  years  he  worked  at  what- 
ever honorable  pursuit  would  furnish  him  a  liveli- 
hood. At  the  expiration  of  that  period,  lie  es- 
tablished a  brick  and  tile  factory,  which  he  oper- 
ated until  1854.  That  year  witnessed  his  removal 
to  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  year.  lie  then  again  devoted  his 
energies  to  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile,  and 
followed  that  pursuit  in  the  Buckeye  State  until 
1859,  when  he  came  to  Jasper  County,  111.  After 
renting  land  in  Fox  Township  for  a  year,  he  pur- 
chased land  in  Preston  Township,  Richland  County, 
a  part  of  his  farm,  and  has  since  resided  thereon. 
Mr.  Franklin  was  twice  married.  In  1845  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Peasgood,  and  unto  them 


were  born  four  children,  but  James,  the  second 
child,  is  the  only  one  now  living.  William,  the 
eldest,  is  deceased,  and  two  died  in  infancy.  The 
mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1850,  and  in 
1852  Mr.  Franklin  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  Westle,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child,  John. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  our  subject  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues 
of  the  day.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  serve 
both  as  Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director. 
He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen, 
who  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  is  a  self-made 
man,  and  for  his  success  in  life  deserves  no  little 
credit,  as  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world  emptj'-handed.  The  obstacles  and  ditli- 
culties  in  his  path  have  been  overcome  by  a  deter- 
mined will  and  great  energy,  and  his  possessions 
stand  as  a  monument  to  his  enterprise.  His  hopes 
of  obtaining  a  good  home  in  the  New  World  have 
been  realized,  and  he  feels  no  regret  on  account  of 
the  step  taken  for  his  removal  to  the  New  World 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-five  years. 


EDWIN  HEDRICK,  who  resides  on  section 
15,  Decker  Township,  is  one  of  the  exten- 
sive land-owners  and  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Richland  County,  dating  his  arrival 
from  1843.  A  half-century  has  passed  since  then,  in 
which  time  he  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  history  of  the  county,  aiding  in  its  up- 
building, and  bearing  his  part  in  its  development. 
His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  on  the 
banks  of  Rough  Creek,  Ohio  County,  Ky.,  January 
23, 1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Lucas) 
Hedrick,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  South  Carolina.  During  childhood,  they 
both  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  they  were  mar- 
ried. In  1841,  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  on 


276 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject. 
Mr.  Hedrick  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen,  and 
was  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  entered  a  half-section  of  unimproved 
land  in  Decker  Township,  and  carried  on  a  coun- 
try store,  but  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy 
his  new  home,  his  death  occurring  in  1845,  at  the 
age  of  forty-nine.  His  wife  survived  him  some 
years,  and  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1876. 
Their  two  eldest  children,  Harrison  L.  and  Bettie 
Ann,  are  deceased;  Edwin  is  the  next  younger; 
Mason,  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  is  a  minister  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  ill  Effingham  County; 
Mrs.  Susan  Ramsy  died  in  this  county;  Sarah  Em- 
ily died  in  Kentucky;  Francis  died  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years;  and  Amanda  is  living  in  Shelby 
County,  111. 

Edwin  Hedrick  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  early  inured  to  hard 
labor,  for  after  the  death  of  his  father  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  and  the  cares  of  the  family  fell 
largely  upon  his  young  shoulders,  but  the  duties  at- 
tendant thereon  he  faithfully  discharged.  At 
length  he  attained  to  man's  estate,  and  on  the 
22d  of  June,  1857,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Adamson,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  an  early  set- 
tler of  this  county.  They  have  seven  children: 
Elvira,  wife  of  Jo  Gallagher,  of  Decker  Town- 
ship; Francis  Marion,  a  wealthy  farmer  and  trader 
of  Texas;  Samuel  A.,  also  a  prosperous  agricul- 
turist; Eva  McClcll'an,  wife  of  Frank  Alvord;  Mat- 
tie  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Henry;  Emma  at  home;  and 
Eddie  R.,  a  student  in  the  State  University  of 
Bloomington,  Ind.,  who  will  graduate  from  the 
law  department  in  June,  1893.  The  children  were 
all  provided  with  good  educational  privileges,  and 
are  intelligent,  respected  citizens  of  the  various 
communities  in  which  they  reside. 

Mr.  Hedrick  is  a  leader  of  the  Democratic  party 
in  this  locality,  and  of  its  principles  he  is  a  stanch 
advocate.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Union  Presbyterian  Church,  and  gives  liberally  to 
church  and  missionary  work,  and  to  every  enter- 
prise calculated  to  uplift  humanity.  The  poor  and 
needy  find  in  him  a  friend,  and  from  his  hospita- 
ble home  none  are  turned  away  empty-handed. 
For  thirty-five  3 ears  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 


Masonic  fraternity.  The  business  interests  which 
occupy  his  attention  are  those  of  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  began  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  wild  and  unimproved  land,  but 
his  possessions  now  aggregate  six  hundred  acres. 
For  thirty-six  years  our  subject  has  engaged  in 
dealing  in  stock.  Straightforward  and  honorable  in 
all  his  business  relations,  he  has  won  universal  confi- 
dence and  gained  a  handsome  property, which  places 
him  among  the  wealthy  citizens  of  the  county. 
His  possessions  stand  as  a  monument  to  his  well-di- 
rected efforts. 


eHRISTIAN  KISTNER,  who  follows  general 
farming  on  section  35,  Preston  Township, 
is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that  Germany 
has  furnished  to  Richland  County.  He  was  born 
in  that  country  on  the  5th  of  April,  1829,  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  whose  parents, 
Joseph  and  Mary  (Weidner)  Kistner,  were  also 
born  in  the  Fatherland.  In  order  of  birth,  his 
brothers  and  sisters  are  as  follows:  Valentin,  Philip, 
Adam,  Celia,  Lizzie,  Annie  and  Henry  J. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  days  of  our  subject,  which  were 
quietly  passed  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  ac- 
quired a  good  business  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  un- 
til he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 
Having  arrived  at  man's  estate,  he  began  to  plan 
for  his  future  life,  and  determined  to  seek  a  home 
in  the  New  World.  Bidding  good-bye  to  friends 
and  Fatherland,  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing-ves- 
sel, which  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  dropped 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  Orleans,  and  he 
landed  in  the  Crescent  City.  This  was  in  1851. 
Mr.  Kistner  made  his  way  northward  to  Winter- 
berg,  Ind.,  and  there  began  working  on  a  farm  by 
the  month.  He  was  thus  employed  for  five  years, 
and  in  1856  came  to  Illinois,  first  locating  in  Clay 
County,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1871. 

During    that   time    Mr.    Kistner    was    married. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


277 


It  was  on  the  7th  of  April,  1858,  that  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Paine  and  Barbara  Gumble.  Seven  children  were 
born  unto  them,  as  follows;  Philip,  now  deceased; 
Edward,  who  follows  farming  in  Jasper  County; 
Adam,  a  farmer  of  Preston  Township;  Caroline, 
deceased;  Henry,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  Annie,  wife  of  Wallace  Zerkel;  and 
Andrew,  deceased.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  in  1875,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Catholic  Cemetery  of  Singleton.  Mr.  Kistner  mar- 
ried his  present  wife  in  1  875.  She  was  Mrs.  Mar- 
garet Wagener,  widow  of  Jacob  Wagener,  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Binkoffer. 

On  leaving  Clay  County  in  1871,  Mr.  Kistner 
took  up  his  residence  near  St.  Morris,  Jasper  Coun- 
ty, where  he  lived  until  1874.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  came  to  Preston  Township,  and 
has  since  resided  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his 
home.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres 
of  land  and  is  a  well-improved  and  valuable  tract. 
The  owner  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising  and  in  his  business  career  he  has  met  with 
good  success,  gaining  a  comfortable  competence. 
He  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  yet  has  found 
time  to  devote  to  public  interests.  He  always 
bears  his  part  in  the  support  of  those  enterprises 
calculated  to  promote  the  general  welfare.  In  pol- 
itics, he  has  always  been  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
ratic  party,  and  by  that  party  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Road  Supervisor.  He  holds  membership 
with  the  Catholic  Church. 


MANN,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Effingham  County,  is  now  owner  of  the 
flour-mills  of  Shumway  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that  place. 
He  was  born  July  24, 1838,  in  Albisheim,  Germany, 
his  parents,  Nicholas  and  Philibina  (Wurster) 
Mann,  being  also  natives  of  Germany.  In  1855 
they  left  the  Fatherland  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America.  They  made  a  location  in  St.  Clair 


County,  111.,  and  there  resided  with  their  eldest 
son,  who  had  come  to  this  country  some  years  pre- 
vious. The  death  of  Mr.  Mann  occurred  in  1862, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  in  1878.  Tliey  had  a 
family  of  eleven  children,  eight  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  and  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  emi- 
gration to  America.  Here  he  went  to  work  on  a 
farm,  receiving  $  per  month  for  his  services,  and 
was  thus  employed  for  three  years.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period,  he  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  himself.  He  remained  in  St. 
Clair  County  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Efriug- 
ham  County  and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  partially  improved  land.  The 
purchase  price  was  $2,900,  but  at  that  time  he 
could  only  make  a  small  payment  upon  it.  He  is 
an  energetic  and  industrious  man,  however,  and  as 
the  result  of  his  untiring  labors  his  financial  re- 
sources were  increased  and  in  due  time  he  paid  off 
all  indebtedness. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  1864,  Mr.  Mann  married 
Miss  Mary  Lotz,  who  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County, 
111.,  October  30,  1844.  Twelve  children  graced 
their  union,  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  but  four 
died  in  infancy.  Those  yet  living  are  Elizabeth; 
Otto,  who  married  Lena  Hohman,  of  this  county, 
and  is  in  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  milling 
business;  Charles,  a  grain  and  stock-dealer  in  Bce- 
cher  City,  Effingham  County;  Annie,  wife  of 
Theodore  Engle,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Effingham 
County;  Lena,  wife  of  William  Metzer,  one  of  the 
leading  young  merchants  of  Shumway;  Rudolph, 
who  aids  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  business; 
Alvena,  who  is  now  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store; 
and  Mary,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Mann  continued  to  devote  his  energies  to 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1885,  when  he  left  the 
farm  and  removed  to  Shumway.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  added  to  Ins  landed  possessions 
a  tract  of  forty  acres.  On  coming  to  Shumway, 
Mr.  Mann  embarked  in  the  grain  and  stock  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  is  now  doing  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing trade.  lie  owns  a  large  flouring-mill  worth 
$15,000,  which  is  supplied  with  all  the  latest  im- 


278 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


provcinents  known  to  the  business.  His  success  in 
life  has  all  been  due  to  his  own  efforts  and  for  it 
he  deserves  great  credit.  He  may  truly  be  called 
a  self-made  man,  for  unaided,  he  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward  from  a  humble  position  until  he  is 
now  classed  qmong  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
community  in  which  he  makes  his  home.  In  poli- 
tics, lie  is  a  Republican  and  has  filled  nearly  all  of 
the  town  offices,  including  those  of  Supervisor  and 
Road  Commissioner.  He  was  also  School  Director 
and  served  as  School  Treasurer  for  nine  years. 
Himself  and  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Mr.  Mann  is  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  and  manifests  a  commendable  in- 
terest in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community. 


ARRISON  CROUS,  who  resides  on  section 
11,  South  Muddy  Township,  Jasper  Coun- 
ty, devotes  his  energies  to  farming  and 
stock-raising,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  this  community.  His  life 
record  is  as  follows:  A  native  of  Clay  County, 
Ind.,  he  was  born  September  9,  1843.  His  father, 
Martin  Crous,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  was  of  German  extraction.  After  attaining 
to  man's  estate,  he  married  Susan  Whitehead,  and 
unto  them  were  born  fifteen  children.  With  one 
exception  all  grew  to  mature  years.  They  were 
Winston,  Lina,  William  (who  was  a  member  of 
Company  A,  Forty-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
died  at  Helena,  Ark.,  in  1862,  from  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service)  Frankie,  Eli,  Calvin,  An- 
drew, Wade,  Stephen,  Henry  (who  was  for  several 
months  held  as  a  prisoner  during  the  late  war  and 
died  in  Libby  Prison  in  1863), Benjamin,  Harrison, 
Frederick  and  Susa'n.  Of  the  ten  sons  of  this 
family,  nine  were  numbered  among  the  boys  in 
blue  of  the  late  war,  and  Winston  and  William 
were  also  in  the  Mexican  War. 

Under  the   parental  roof,  Harrison  Crous  grew 
to  manhood.     In  his  youth  he  attended  the  sub- 


scription schools  to  a  limited  extent,  but  has 
acquired  his  education  more  largely  through  ex- 
perience, reading  and  observation.  When"  the  late 
war  broke  out,  ficed  by  patriotic  impulses  and  a 
desire  to  aid.  his  country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  he 
enlisted  August  20,  1861,  although  only  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  A, 
Forty-third  Indiana  Infantry.  He  saw  much  hard 
service,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  New 
Madrid,  Island  No.  10,  Riddle's  Point,  Ft.  Pillow, 
Memphis,  Ft.  Charles,  Ft.  Pemberton,  Helena,  Lit 
tie  Rock,  Elkins'  Fort,  Marks'  Mills  and  Jenkins' 
Ferry,  and  also  many  smaller  engagements.  He 
was  captured  by  the  enemy  at  Marks'  Mills  in  1863, 
and  was  held  a  prisoner  for  exactly  ten  months, 
being  incarcerated  at  Camp  Ford,  at  Tyler,  Tex. 
After  being  exchanged  in  1864,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Corporal,  and  in 
June,  1865,  received  an  honorable  discharge  in 
Indianapolis.  Mr.  Crous  was  only  a  boy  when  he 
entered  the  army,  but  he  saw  much  hard  service 
and  was  as  faithful  and  true  to  the  Old  Flag  as 
those  of  maturer  years. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  the  Hoosier  State,  our 
subject  rented  land  and  there  engaged  in  farming 
until  1868,  which  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Jasper  County,  111.  The  two  succeeding  j'ears  of 
his  life  were  passed  in  Smallwood  Township,  after 
which  he  removed  to  the  farm  of  forty  acres  which 
he  had  first  purchased  on  coming  to  the  county. 

Ere  coming  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Crous  was  married. 
On  the  20th  of  September,  1866,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Martha  J.  Adda,  and  their  union 
was  blessed  with  the  following  children:  Eveline; 
Solomon,  who  died  October  4,  1870;  Lydia  and 
Ida,  twins,  who  died  on  the  6th  of  April,  1871, 
and  the  2d  of  February,  1872,  respectively; 
John,  who  died  February  12,  1874;  Adam;  Susie 
deceased;  Margaret;  Emma;  William;  Albert,  who 
died  October  15,  1890;  and  Ethel. 

The  parents  hold  membership  with  the  Method- 
ist Church,  and  in  the  community  where  they  re- 
side are  numbered  among  the  prominent  and  in- 
fluential citizens.  Mr.  Crous  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  exercises 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


279 


his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Republi- 
can party,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  po- 
litical preferment.  He  desires  rather  to  devote  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  He 
lived  upon  his  first  farm  of  forty  acres  until  1882, 
when  he  removed  to  his  present  home.  He  now 
owns  eighty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  11, 
South  Muddy  Township,  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising. 


J"  (AMES  GALLAGHER,  a  successful  farmer 
residing  on  section  2,  Decker  Township,Rich- 
|  land  County,  is  numbered  among  the  early 
'  settlers  of  this  locality,  and  with  its  history 

his  life  record  is  inseparably  connected.  He  has 
here  shared  all  the  trials  and  hardships  of  frontier 
life,  and  during  the  forty-one  years  which  have 
passed  since  he  became  a  resident  of  this  commu- 
nity, he  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  its  upbuilding 
and  advancement. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  County  West  Meath,  Ire- 
land, July  25,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Galla- 
gher, who  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  region.  The 
children  of  the  family  were  Patrick  and  Joseph, 
both  of  whom  died  in  this  county;  Maiy,  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.;  James,  of  this  sketch;  John; 
Michael,  a  farmer  in  Richland  County;  Elizabeth, 
who  died  in  Ohio;  and  Marcella,  wife  of  John 
Hughes,  who  owns  the  farm  adjoining  that  of  our 
subject. 

Mr.  Gallagher  had  very  limited  educational  ad- 
vantages in  his  youth.  He  remained  on  the  Em- 
erald Isle  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when, 
wishing  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World,  he 
sailed  from  Dublin  to  Liverpool  and  from  there 
to  New  Orleans,  where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage 
of  eight  weeks.  He  was  the  first  of  the  familj'  to 
cross  the  briny  deep.  Going  up  the  river  to  Cincin- 
nati, lie  worked  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  year  and  a-half 
near  that  city.  He  then  drove  a  team  in  Hills- 
dale,  Ohio,  for  six  months,  after  which  he  went  to 
Evansville,  and  spent  the  succeeding  year  in  driv- 


ing spikes  for  the  Evansville  &  Terra  Haute 
Railroad.  It  was  in  1852  that  lie  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  a  part  of  his  present  homestead. 
This  he  divided  with  his  brother,  but  since  locat- 
ing thereon  in  1854  he  has  gradually  extended 
his  possessions  as  his  financial  resources  increased 
until  he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
acres  of  valuable  land.  There  were  many  hard- 
ships to  be  met,  many  difficulties  to  be  overcome,  but 
he  steadily  toiled  on  and  he  now  has  a  handsome 
property. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Gallagher  married  Saralda  Garret, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  Her  parents  were  pioneers 
of  this  countj'  and  still  live  with  their  daughter. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Masella,  wife  of  John  Burton,  a  merchant  of  Bon  - 
pas  Township;  John,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
on  section  12,  Decker  Township;  Levi,  a  successful 
agriculturist  of  Indiana;  Michael  and  Henry,  who 
follow  farming  in  Decker  Township;  Jo,  James  and 
Marion  at  home. 

The  Democratic  party  finds  in  Mr.  Gallagher  a 
stanch  supporter,  he  having  supported  its  nomi- 
nees since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Franklin  Pierce  in  1852.  He  has  served  as  Town- 
ship Commissioner  for  six  years,  proving  a  capable 
and  efficient  officer.  The  community  recognizes  in 
him  a  valued  citizen  andnn  honored  pioneer.  He 
has  seen  the  wild  lands  of  the  county  transformed 
into  good  homes  and  farms,  its  hamlets  grow  into 
thriving  towns,  and  the  work  of  civilization  and 
progress  carried  forward  until  the  country  of  to- 
day bears  little  resemblance  to  that  of  fort}'  years 
ago. 


H.  RUNYON,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  27,  Decker  Township, 
,  has  long  been  a  resident  of  Richland 
County,  and  is  numbered  among  its  early 
settlers.  His  birth  occurred  in  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  February  26,  1840.  The  family  is  of  Irish 
descent,  having  been  founded  in  America  by  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject.  His  father, 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Samuel  Runyon,  was  born  in  Rockingham  County, 
Va.,  in  1807,  and  there  remained  until  twenty - 
lliree  years  of  age.  He  was  an  excellent  student 
and  acquired  a  good  English  education.  In  1830 
he  emigrated  to  Highland  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
purchased  a  tract  of  timberland  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  and  began  the  development  of 
a  farm,  whereon  he  made  his  home  until  his  re- 
moval to  this  county  in  1853.  Here  he  purchased 
six  hundred  acres  of  land,  comprising  the  farm 
which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject.  It  was  all 
wild  prairie,  not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or 
an  improvement  made.  He  had  started  out  in 
the  world  a  poor  boy,  but  ere  his  death  had  be- 
come a  man  of  considerable  property.  He  passed 
awav  in  1855,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years.  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth 
Nave,  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

In  the  Ruuyon  family  were  ten  children.  Su- 
sanna, born  in  Virginia,  died  in  Richland  County. 
Josiah  and  Uriah,  twins,  were  born  in  Ohio.  The 
latter  is  now  deceased,  and  the  former  is  a  farmer 
of  Mt.  Erie,  111.  George  W.  is  living  in  Wa3'ne 
County,  111.;  Reuben  is  the  next  younger;  Lydia 
M.  is  the  wife  of  John  Totten,  of  Decker  Town- 
ship; Phoebe  A.  is  the  wife  of  John  Spain;  Samuel 
S.,  who  served  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, is  a  farmer  of  this  locality;  James  K.  Polk, 
who  enlisted  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  served 
for  three  years  in  the  late  war,  is  now  an  agri- 
culturist of  Wayne  County.  The  parents  of  this 
family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
were  highly-respected  citizens. 

In  his  native  State,  Mr.  Runyon,  our  subject, 
attended  the  public  schools  and  the  academy  of 
Hillsboro.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Illinois,  driving  a  team.  He  aided 
in  the  development  of  the  home  farm  until  his 
father's  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  only 
fifueen  years  of  age.  A  tract  of  wild  land  then 
came  to  him  as  his  share  of  the  estate.  Before  he 
was  twenty  he  had  planted  a  good  orchard  upon 
it,  the  first  on  the  prairie,  and  to  fruit-growing  he 
devoted  his  energies  during  the  summer  months, 
while  in  the  winter  season  he  taught  school  in  this 
neighborhood  for  fourteen  years.  In  addition 
he  also  discharged  his  official  duties.  When  a 


young  man  of  twenty-one  he  was  elected  Assessor 
and  has  held  that  office  for  sixteen  terms.  He  also 
served  two  terms  as  Supervisor,  and  in  1880  was 
Census  Enumerator.  Since  attaining  to  man's  es- 
tate he  has  been  prominent  in  public  and  official 
life,  and  the  community  recognizes  in  him  one  of 
its  most  valued  citizens.  He  still  owns  ninety-six 
acres  of  the  home  farm,  upon  which  is  a  five-acre 
peach  orchard,  and  he  has  the  place  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  improvement. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1867,  Mr.  Runyon  married 
Sarah  A.  Jonachan,  a  native  of  Highland  County, 
Ohio,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  three  children. 
Jason  S.,  born  June  5,  1869,  aids  his  father  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  farm;  Alice  is  the  wife  of 
John  Collins, a  farmer  of  this  township;  Albert  R., 
born  in  1882,  completes  the  family.  On  matters 
of  national  importance,  Mr.  Runyon  supports  the 
Democratic  party,  but  is  independent  in  local  pol- 
itics. His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church.  He  manifested  his  loyalty  to  his 
country  during  the  late  war  by  offering  his  ser- 
vices to  the  Government,  but  as  the  quota  was 
filled  the  company  which  he  joined  was  disbanded. 
He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity, 
and  his  honorable,  upright  life  has  gained  for  him 
high  regard. 


AMES  C.  IRELAND,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive farmers  and  early  settlers  of  Willow 
Hill  Township,  Jasper  County,  residing  on 
section  7,  was  born  in  Decatur  County,  Ind., 
and  was  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren, one  son  and  eight  daughters.  The  parents 
were  Richard  and  Louisiana  (Callahan)  Ireland. 
The  father  was  born  in  Kentucky,  March  25,  1802, 
and  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  old  home 
farm  in  that  State  until  his  marriage,  which  was 
celebrated  October  28,  1824.  Soon  afterward  he 
emigrated  with  his  young  wife  to  Decatur  County, 
Ind.,  and  entered  land  from  the  Government. 
The  tract  was  in  the  midst  of  heavy  timber.  Soon, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


283 


however,  the  woodman's  axe  awakened  the  echoes 
and  when  the  trees  were  hewed  down,  he  plowed 
and  planted  his  land,  making  that  farm  his  home 
until  1849,  in  which  year  he  sold  out  and  came  to 
Jasper  Count}-,  111.  Here  he  again  entered  Gov- 
ernment land,  securing  about  one  thousand  acres, 
and  to  its  improvement  he  devoted  his  energies 
until  his  death.  lie  passed  away  April  9,  1873. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  March  30,  1805,  and  has 
therefore  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years,  now  makes  her  home  with  our  sub- 
ject. 

James  C.  Ireland  was  about  seventeen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents. 
Up  to  that  date  he  had  spent  his  entire  life  upon 
his  father's  farm  in  Indiana,  and  had  attended  the 
country  schools,  which  afforded  him  his  educa- 
tional privileges.  With  his  father  he  came  to  Ill- 
inois and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
he  had  arrived  at  man's  estate,  when  he  left  home 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  His  father 
gave  him  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  laud, 
upon  which  he  located  and  which  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  At  that  time  the  country  was  but 
sparsely  settled.  The  nearest  railroad  was  at 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.  All  kinds  of  wild  game  were 
plentiful,  including  deer  and  such  small  game  as 
turkeys,  ducks,  etc.  Mr.  Ireland  has  borne  the 
experiences  of  frontier  life  and  has  witnessed  al- 
most the  entire  development  of  the  county. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1854,  our  subject  married 
Miss  Nancy  Neal,  who  was  born  in  Shelby  County, 
Ind.,  February  5,  1836,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Eliza  (Wilson)  Neal.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  November  20,  1803,  was  of 
English  extraction  and  died  in  Jasper  County, 
January  3,  1882.  Her  mother,  whose  birth  occur- 
red in  Pennsylvania,  November  24,  1808, and  who 
is  of  Irish  lineage,  is  still  living  in  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Ireland  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents  when 
a  maiden  of  fifteen  years,  and  has  since  here  re- 
sided. 

Eleven  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife,  two  sons  and  nine  daughters,  of  whom 
nine  are  yet  living:  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Milton 
Sims,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Martha  J.,  wife  of  L.  B.  Smith,  a  farmer  of 

13 


Crawford  County,  111.;  Margera,  who  died  in  in- 
fanc}';  Eliza;  Anna,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching 
school;  Sarah,  wife  of  Charles  Dodd,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Jasper  County;  George  P.,  who  operates 
the  home  farm;  Alice;  Cora;  and  Richard  T.  The 
children  have  all  received  good  educational  ad- 
vantages and  are  thus  fitted  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Ireland  is  a  Mason 
and  Odd  Fellow,  holding  membership  with  Cooper 
Lodge  No.  489,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Willow  Hill,  and 
Hunt  City  Lodge  No.  610,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Hunt 
City.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  now  owns  and  operates  two  hundred 
acres  of  rich  land,  pleasantly  located  about  two 
miles  south  of  Willow  Hill.  The  Ireland  house- 
hold is  noted  for  its  hospitality,  and  the  members 
of  the  family  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social 
circles. 


ENRY  LATHROP,  who  carries  on  farming 
on  section  14,  German  Township,  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected  citi- 
zens  of  Richland  County,  dating  his  resi- 
dence here  from  1839.  A  native  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  he  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
May  14,  1817,  and  at  this  writing  is  seventy-six 
years  of  age.  His  father,  Russell  Lathrop,  was  born 
in  Fairfax,  Franklin  County,  Vt.,  and  the  grand- 
father, Elkanah  Lathrop,  was  a  native  of  Connect- 
icut, in  which  State  he  lived  when  the  British  and 
Tories  burned  New  London.  This  atrocious  act 
stirred  him  deeply  and  with  many  others  he  aided 
in  driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  neighborhood. 
The  Lathrop  family,  which  is  of  English  origin, 
was  established  in  the  Bay  State  in  1639,  and  Rev. 
John  Lathrop  founded  the  town  of  Barnstable, 
Mass. 

Russell  Lathrop  grew  to  manhood  in  Franklin 
County,  Vt.,  and  in  Canada,  just  across  the  line 
from  his  Vermont  home.  After  attaining  to  man's 


284 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


estate,  lie  returned  to  Franklin  County,  and  en- 
tered the  United  States  service  for  the  AVar  of 
1812.  On  the  12th  of  January,  1815,  after  that 
struggle  was  at  an  end, he  wedded  Cynthia  Powell, 
a  native  of  Hartford,  Vt.,  and  a  daughter  of  Row- 
land and  Mary  (Janes)  Powell,  who  were  born  in 
Massachusetts.  The  latter  was  a  descendant  of 
Gov.  Bradford,  one  of  the  first  Governors  of  the 
Bay  State.  After  his  marriage,  Russell  Lathrop 
farmed  for  a  number  of  years  in  Franklin  County, 
Vt.,  and  then  bought  land  just  across  the  line  in 
Canada,  which  he  operated  for  a  few  years.  In 
June,  1837,  he  removed  to  Decatur  County,  Ind., 
joining  a  brother  who  had  lived  there  for  some 
time.  lie  passed  four  years  in  that  locality,  and  in 
1841  came  to  Richland  County,  111.,  where  he  en- 
tered one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and 
after  the  Mexican  War  he  obtained  forty  acres  on 
a  land  warrant,  which  he  received  for  his  services 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  spent  the  last  years  of 
his  life  with  our  subject,  and  died  September  3, 
1872,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine  years. 
He  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  his  wife  in  Prai- 
rieton  Cemetery,  of  Lawrence  County,  where  a 
substantial  monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  young  man  of 
twenty  years  when,  with  his  parents,  he  removed 
to  Decatur  County,  Ind.  Soon  after  he  went  to  work 
for  a  cousin,  Augustus  Lathrop,  who  was  carrying 
on  an  extensive  business  as  a  merchant  in  Cross 
Plains,Ripley  County,  and  who  also  operated  a  card- 
ing-mill  and  an  oilmill.  Our  subject  was  employed 
in  the  two  mills  at  first  and  later  worked  in  a 
store.  In  1839,  he  boughta  small  mare  and  saddle 
and  started  Westward,  crossing  the  Wabash  River 
at  Vincennes,  on  the  3d  of  October.  At  length  he 
reached  Richland  County,  then  Lawrence  County, 
and  during  the  following  winter  engaged  in 
teaching  a  subscription  school,  being  one  of  the 
pioneer  teachers  of  the  county.  In  the  spring  of 
1840,  he  returned  to  Indiana,  and  joined  his  fa- 
ther, who  had  rented  the  carding-machine,  and 
together  they  operated  it  through  the  summer. 

In  the  following  September,  they  brought  the 
machine  to  Lawrence  County,  111.,  and  there  did 
business  for  two  years,  after  which  our  subject 


traded  it  for  an  eighty-acre  farm  in  Richland 
County,  which  he  still  owns.  In  the  winter  of  1840 
and  1841,  he  again  engaged  in  teaching,  and  on 
the  10th  of  September,  1844,  located  upon  his  farm, 
which  he  began  to  clear  and  develop.  The  lady 
who  presided  over  his  home  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Rachel  Laws.  She  was  born  in  Lawrence 
County,  in  1824,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
Laws,  an  early  settler  of  that  county  of  1820.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  September  1,  1844,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm. 
During  the  first  years  they  experienced  many  of 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  frontier  life.  Mr. 
Lathrop  had  a  horse  but  no  wagon.  His  tools  and 
machinery  were  few.  He  paid  for  an  ox-team  in 
carpenter  work,  and  thus  broke  his  land,  which  in 
course  of  time  began  to  yield  abundant  harvests. 
At  length  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  fort3r-acre 
tract  adjoining  that  which  he  first  bought.  He  also 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  additional. 
His  well-directed  efforts  soon  brought  him  a  hand- 
some competency,  and  he  made  judicious  invest- 
ments of  his  capital,  until  at  one  time  he  owned 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  has 
since  given  to  each  of  his  live  sons  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  yet  retains  possession 
of  twohundred  and  ninety-three  acres.  The  log  cab- 
in has  been  replaced  by  a  commodious  and  pleasant 
residence,  which  is  supplemented  by  good  barnsaud 
outbuildings.  There  is  also  a  fine  orchard,  and  all 
these  are  surrounded  by  rich  and  fertile  fields. 

Mi.  and  Mrs.  Lathi-op  had  a  family  of  nine 
children  who  grew  to  mature  years.  Samantha  is 
the  wife  of  David  M.  Roney,  a  substantial  farmer 
of  German  Township;  Ann  is  the  wife  of  James  K. 
Roney,  of  German  Township;  Elvira  is  the  widow 
of  John  H.  Fee,  of  Lawrence  County;  Albert  is  one 
of  the  prominent  and  wealthy  farmers  of  Lawrence 
County,  where  he  owns  five  hundred  acres  of  land; 
Charles  is  a  farmer  of  German  Township;  George 
became  a  substantial  farmer  and  met  his  death  by 
accident  July  6,  1887;  Henry  and  Gilbert  are  both 
agriculturists  of  Richland  County;  and  Martha  is 
the  wife  of  Aden  Cotterell.  of  German  Township. 
They  also  lost  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  died  in  1857, 
aged  twenty  months. 

On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Lathrop  identi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fied  himself  with  the  Whig  party.  On  its  dissolu- 
tion, he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican 
party,  and  lias  since  fought  under  its  banner.  Al- 
though he  never  solicited  office,  he  has  been 
honored  with  several  positions  of  public  trust. 
He  served  for  five  years  as  Supervisor  of  German 
Township,  was  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
For  over  half  a  century,  Mr.  Lathrop  has  resided 
in  Richland  County,  and  has  been  a  witness  of  its 
progress  and  upbuilding.  In  its  development  and 
advancement  he  has  ever  borne  his  part,  and  the 
community  recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen.  His 
business  dealings  have  been  characterized  by 
strict  honor.  When  he  came  to  the  county,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1839,  he  was  the  owner  of  a  horse  only. 
Certainly  great  credit  is  due  him  for  the  signal 
success  that  has  crowned  his  efforts,  as  he  has 
worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming  the  difficulties 
in  his  path  and  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  to  a 
position  of  wealth  and  affluence. 


BHOMAS  MATTHEWS,  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative farmers  of  Smallwood  Townsjiip, 
Jasper  County,  residing  on  section  33, 
claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Fountain  County,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1834.  His  father  was  John  Matthews, 
and  his  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Vina 
Clawson.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  in  an  early  day  went  with  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
lie  became  a  carpenter  and  cabinet-maker  and  fol- 
lowed those  trades  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  in  connection  with  which  he  also  carried 
on  farming.  His  death  occurred  in  Warren  County, 
Ind.,  April  8,  1850,  and  his  wife,  who  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  died  in  Indiana  in  1845.  On  the 
paternal  side  our  subject  is  of  German  descent, 
and  on  the  maternal  side  is  of  Irish  lineage.  The 
Matthews  family  numbered  eight,  children,  five 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is 


the  fourth  in  order  of  birth.  Jacob  and  Timothy 
are  now  deceased;  Mary  Ann,  widow  of  John 
Linebaugh,  resides  in  Golden,  Colo.;  Tobias  L. 
died  in  the  service  of  his  country  during  the  late 
war;  Abraham  is  a  law  and  loan  agent  of  Michi- 
gan ;  Rachel  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Sidney  Gebhard, 
of  Aurora,  Neb.;  and  Sarah  Elizabeth  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  Peterson,  of  Vermilion  County,  111. 

Mr.  Matthews  whose  name  heads  this  record 
began  life  for  himself  at  the  tender  age  of  twelve 
years,  when  he  was  bound  out  to  George  Poe,  a 
farmer  of  Warren  County,  Ind.,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then 
worked  on  the  farm  by  the  month  for  about  a 
year,  after  which  he  began  farming  in  his  own  in- 
terest, renting  land  in  the  Hoosier  State  until  1866. 
He  then  came  to  Jasper  County  and  purchased  the 
farm  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  He  now 
owns  and  operates  two  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  and  the  well-tilled  fields  and  neat  appear- 
ance of  his  place  indicate  the  practical  and  pro- 
gressive spirit  of  the  owner,  while  the  many  im- 
provements stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and 
enterprise. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1856,  Mr.  Matthews 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  J. 
Jones,  who  was  born  January  7,  1837,  in  Indiana. 
Four  children  graced  this  union,  but  Rachel  A., 
the  first-born,  died  when  only  about  three  years 
of  age;  Melissa  E.  is  the  wife  of  Jerry  Skelton,  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store  in  Newton,  111.;  Artemus 
L.  is  one  of  the  leading  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
Jasper  County.  He  now  devotes  his  attention  to 
fruit-growing  and  has  a  fine  orchard  of  forty  acres. 
He  is  a  highly-educated  young  man  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  to  practice  law,  but  as  his  father 
wished  him  to  look  after  the  farm  he  returned 
home  and  is  now  managing  that  property.  Ida 
May,  the  youngest  member  of  the  Matthews  fam- 
ily, is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Walter  Me  Taggart,  of 
Bogota,  111. 

Mr.  Matthews,  his  wife  and  daughters  are  all 
members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  the  family 
is  one  of  prominence  in  the  community,  its  mem- 
bers ranking  high  in  social  circles  where  true 
worth  and  ability  are  received  as  the  passports 
into  good  society.  Mr.  Matthews  is  a  stanch  tern- 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


perance  man  and  votes  with  the  Prohibition  party. 
He  has  served  as  Road  Commissioner  in  his  town- 
ship for  two  terms.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  of  Newton. 
His  honorable  career  is  well  worthy  of  emulation 
and  his  success  in  business  life  should  encourage 
young  men  who,  like  himself,  have  to  start  out 
empty-handed. 


<^  j^ILLIAM  W.  SPARR,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Monroe  County,  W.  Va.,  January  26, 1825, 
and  was  of  German  descent.  His  father. 
G.  W.  Sparr,  was  a  native  of  Virginia  and  married 
Sarah  Wickline,  by  whom  he  had  live  children. 
Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  in  the  public  schools  he  acquired  a  good 
business  education.  With  his  parents  he  remained 
until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  earn 
his  own  livelihood  by  working  as  a  farm  hand. 
After  a  short  time,  however,  he  secured  employ- 
ment in  a  gristmill  and  to  that  work  devoted  his 
energies  for  a  number  of  years.  He  became  a  car- 
penter and  millwright  by  trade. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Sparr  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  the  fifteen  succeeding  years.  It 
was  in  1862  that  he  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up 
his  residence  in  Noble  Township,  Richland  County, 
purchasing  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  family. 
It  comprised  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  and  he  at 
once  began  its  development  and  improvement. 
Within  the  boundaries  of  the  farm  there  are  now 
three  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  highly  cultivated 
and  valuable  land. 

On  the  oth  of  November,  1850,  Mr.  Sparr  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  J.  Adams,  who 
was  born  near  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  February  25, 
1831,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Martin  and  Phoebe 
(Taylor)  Adams.  Her  father  was  born  in  Virginia 
and  was  of  German  descent.  In  the  Adams  fam- 
ily there  were  twelve  children.  There  were  fifteen 
children  born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife, 


namely:  Lizzie  M.  and  Olivia  J.,  both  deceased; 
George,  Phoebe,  Martin  A.,  Arthur  W.,  Seward  (de- 
ceased), Robert  N..  John  C.,  Sarah,  Mary  A.,  Lillie 
J.  and  Luella  M.,  both  deceased,  and  two  who  died 
in  infancy.  The  family  is  a  prominent  one  in  this 
locality  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social  cir- 
cles. Mr.  Sparr  always  took  an  active  interest  in 
political  affairs  and  kept  himself  well  informed  on 
the  issues  of  the  day.  However,  he  never  sought 
or  desired  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public 
office.  He  voted  with  the  Republican  party  and 
did  all  in  his  power  to  upbuild  it  and  insure  its 
success.  With  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  he 
held  membership.  He  was  an  industrious  and  en- 
terprising man,  and  the  comfortable  properly 
which  he  left  to  his  family  had  all  been  acquired 
through  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  In  the 
community  where  he  lived  he  was  held  in  high  re- 
gard, for  he  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  pos- 
sessed many  excellencies  of  character.  His  death 
occurred  May  17,  1884,  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Wesley  Cemetery,  in  Denver  Township. 
In  his  death  the  community  lost  one  of  its  best 
and  most  highly-respected  citizens. 


OHN  M.  OAKES,  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  well-to-do  farmers  of  German  Town- 
ship, Richland  County,  residing  on  section 
14,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth  having 
occurred  in  Stark  County,  on  the  14th  of  March, 
1840.  His  father,  Paulus  Oakes,  was  a  native  of 
German3T,and  bidding  good-bye  to  the  Fatherland 
crossed  the  broad  ocean  to  the  United  States  with 
his  parents  when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years.  He 
became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Stark  County, 
and  there  met  and  married  Elizabeth  Renier,  a 
native  of  German}',  who  came  to  this  country 
when  a  maiden  of  fourteen.  After  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Oakes  located  upon  a  farm  which  he  hewed 
out  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  and  upon  the  old 
homestead  he  is  still  living,  a  hale  and  hearty  old 
gentleman  of  eighty  years.  He  lost  hia  wife 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


287 


about  1870.  The  family  of  that  worthy  couple 
numbered  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  child.  No 
event  of  special  importance  occurred  during  his 
youth,  which  was  quietly  passed  on  the  old  home- 
stead farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
schools,  where  lie  acquired  a  good  English  educa- 
tion. He  remained  at  home  until  after  he  had 
arrived  at  man's  estate,  and  then  to  earn  his  live- 
lihood began  working  as  a  farm  hand  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  was  thus  employed  for  about  five 
years.  In  1871,  he  secured  as  a  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss  Rosina  Weiler,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Ignatius  Weiler. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  in  Stark  County,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  be- 
longing to  his  father.  The  year  1872  witnessed 
their  arrival  in  Richland  County,  where  Mr.  Oakes 
purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  in  German 
Township.  Upon  it  was  a  house  and  barn,  and  it 
was  otherwise  improved.  After  eighteen  years  he 
added  to  this  another  tract  of  sixty-five  acres,  and 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  rich 
land,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  has  set  out  a  good  or- 
chard upon  it,  rebuilt  the  barn  and  built  a  granary. 

In  January,  1884,  Mrs.  Oakes  was  called  to  her 
final  home.  Six  children  were  born  of  that  union: 
Mary,  Amelia,  Lawrence  (who  died  October  28, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years),  Matilda, 
Alois  and  Siloina.  In  this  county,  on  the  9th  of 
May,  1885,  Mr.  Oakes  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Halm,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Richland 
County.  They  had  one  child,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  three  months. 

Mr.  Oakes  and  his  family  are  all  members  of 
St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church.  Since  the  3'ears  of 
his  manhood,  he  has  won  by  his  labor,  enterprise 
and  well-directed  efforts  a  handsome  competence 
that  places  him  among  the  substantial  citizens 
of  this  locality.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stalwart  Dem- 
ocrat, and  with  one  exception  has  supported  each 
Presidential  nominee  of  the  party  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  in 


1864.  He  was  elected  Commissioner  of  Highways 
in  August,  1881,  and  served  in  that  ottice  for 
twelve  consecutive  years,  being  the  present  incum- 
bent. His  long-continued  service  well  indicates 
his  faithfulness  and  fidelity  to  duty,  traits  which 
have  characterized  his  entire  life  in  all  of  its  rela- 
tions, whether  public  or  private. 


lERY  REV.  HUGOLINE  STORFF,  O.  S.  F., 
Rector  of  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College  of 
Teutopolis,  is  a  native  of  Elberfeld,  Rhen- 
ish Prussia.  The  father  was  born  on  the  18th 
of  March,  1859,  and  was  parity  educated  in  his 
native  country,  where  he  attended  the  gymnasium 
and  principal  college  of  his  native  cit}'  for  nearly 
five  years.  He  began  his  classical  course  at  eleven 
years  of  age,  and  at  fifteen  entered  the  Franciscan 
Order.  In  1875,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  came 
direct  to  the  Convent  of  St.  Francis  in  Teutop- 
olis, where  he  pursued  his  classical  studies  for  a 
year  and  a-half,  after  which  he  took  a  two-years 
course  in  philosophy  at  Quincy,  111.,  and  for  three 
years  studied  theology  in  St.  Louis.  At  the  latter 
place  he  was  ordained  priest  in  1882,  by  the  Most 
Rev.  Archbishop  Ryan.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  was  appointed  to  a  professorship  in  the  classical 
department  in  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College  at 
Teutopolis.  After  he  had  filled  that  position  for 
six  years,  he  was  appointed  Vice-Rector  of  the  col- 
lege, but  still  continued  to  teach  as  before. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1892,  Rev.  Mr.  Storff 
was  promoted  and  chosen  Rector  of  the  institution, 
which  position  he  now  holds.  He  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  college  as  teacher  for  eleven  years, 
and  has  won  distinction  for  his  ability  and  fidelity 
in  the  discharge  of  duty. 

The  Rector  possesses  those  peculiar  qualifica- 
tions— thorough  culture,  experience,  executive 
ability  and  patience — that  fit  him  for  the  arduous 
and  responsible  duties  of  his  position.  Under  his 
able  management  the  college  is  enjoying  a  season 
of  prosperity  and  progress  that  adds  to  its  alrendy 


288 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


well-established  reputation.  He  is  assisted  by  an 
able  corps  of  teachers,  and  by  their  mutual  efforts 
a  high  standard  of  mental,  moral  and  physical 
development  is  attained  by  a  large  number  of 
students. 


m 


OHN  N.  HORNER,  senior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Homer  Brothers'  Elevator  Company, 
of  Olney,  President  of  the  Olney  Bank  and 
President  of  the  Olney  Paving  Brick  and 
Tile  Company,  is  one  of  Olney 's  most  enterpris- 
ing and  successful  business  men.  He  was  born  in 
Gettysburg,  Darke  County,  Ohio,  March  4,  1841, 
and  is  the  eldest  son  of  George  W.  and  Sarah 
(Reck)  Horner.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
the  Buckeye  State,  and  his  grandparents  on  both 
sides  were  from  Pennsylvania. 

John  N.  Horner  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  town,  and  in  April,  1864,  enlisted  in  the 
late  war  for  the  Union  as  a  member  of  Company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Ohio  Infantry, 
for  one  hundred  days'  service.  He  was  with  his 
regiment  in  active  service  in  the  Shenandoah  Val- 
ley during  the  hot  campaign  of  1864.  The  regi- 
ment was  guarding  Gen.  Hunter's  army  supply 
trains,  and  in  discharge  of  that  duty  was  involved 
in  several  sharp  skirmishes.  Mr.  Horner  served 
for  nearly  five  months,  and  was  mustered  out  in 
August  following  his  enlistment.  On  his  return 
from  the  army,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school 
in  Ohio  for  a  time,  and  later  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising in  his  native  town  and  in  the  grain  trade 
in  company  with  his  brothers  David  and  George  W. 

In  September,  1868,  our  subject  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Rush,  a  daughter  of 
Harmon  II.  Rush,  who  is  now  living  in  Olney  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Mrs.  Horner  is  a 
native  of  Ohio.  By  .the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  born  two  children,  sons:  John 
J.,  born  November  5,  1878;  and  Paul  Linn,  April 
8,  1885. 

In  April,  1872,  Mr.  Horner  came  to  Olney,  Rich- 


land  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  grain  trade. 
The  year  following  he  was  joined  by  his  brother 
David,  and  a  year  later  by  another  brother,  George 
W.  These  two,  with  himself,  comprised  the  firm 
of  Horner  Brothers.  In  1876  they  erected  the 
elevator  which  bears  their  name,  and  which  they 
have  since  operated.  This  elevator  is  the  most 
complete  in  its  appointments  of  any  in  southern 
Illinois.  It  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  and  has 
a  storage  capacity  of  seventy-five  thousand  bush- 
els, being  the  largest  in  Olney.  The  Horner  Broth- 
ers are  extensive  dealers  in  grain,  and  for  several 
years,  while  crops  were  the  best,  their  annual  ship- 
ments reached  as  high  as  one  thousand  carloads, 
or  about  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three  thousand 
bushels,  largely  wheat.  At  the  present  time  the 
amount  shipped  ranges  from  five  hundred  to  six 
hundred  carloads  annually. 

In  February,  1882,  in  company  with  Henry 
Spring  and  others,  Mr.  Horner  was  instrumental 
in  founding  the  Olney  National  Bank,  now  the  pri- 
vate bank  of  Olney,  of  which  he  is  President.  It 
is  one  of  the  leading  financial  institutions  in  Rich- 
land  County,  and  does  a  good  business.  In  1891 
Mr.  Horner  organized  the  Oluey  Paving  Brick  and 
Tile  Company,  of  which  he  has  since  been  Presi- 
dent. This  is  one  of  the  important  industries  of 
the  city.  From  twenty-five  to  thirty  men  are  em- 
ployed, and  the  output  of  the  works  amounts  to 
three  million  bricks  and  tile.  His  brother  David 
is  interested  with  him  in  this  enterprise.  Their 
products  have  won  favor  among  the  people,  and 
the  demand  has  increased  until  it  has  been  deter- 
mined to  enlarge  the  capacity  of  the  works  the 
coining  season.  This  company  not  only  manu- 
factures, but  takes  extensive  contracts  for  laying, 
brick,  and  they  ship  large  quantities  of  brick  and 
tile  to  neighboring  counties. 

Mr.  Horner  is  a  member  of  Eli  Bowyer  Post  No. 
92,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  is  serving  his  third  year  as  Alder- 
man from  the  First  Ward.  In  municipal  affairs 
he  is  active  and  influential. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1887,  George  W.  Hor- 
ner died,  since  which  time  his  widow  represents 
the  estate  of  her  husband  in  the  firm  of  Horner 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


289 


Brothers.  The  Homer  Brothers  have  been  in  busi- 
ness together  almost  continually  since  reaching 
manhood,  and  have  always  worked  together  in 
harmony  and  with  fair  success.  They  have  always 
been  known  as  upright  and  enterprising  business 
men,  public-spirited,  and  as  such  cheerfully  sup- 
porting necessary  public  improvements,  educational 
and  religious  interests.  Their  business  enterprises 
have  been  such  as  to  benefit  the  community  wherein 
they  reside,  as  well  as  themselves,  and  have  been 
of  importance,  not  only  to  the  city  of  Olney,  but 
to  Richland  County. 


ON.  ELBERT  ROWLAND,  M.  D.  has  won 
a  prominent  place  in  political,  professional 
and  social  circles  of  Richland  Country.  He 
now  resides  in  Olnej-,  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  its  honored  pioneer  families.  He  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  April  23,  1832,  and  is  a 
son  of  Townsend  and  Eliza  (Sands)  Rowland. 
With  liis  father  he  came  to  Illinois  in  November, 
1840,  being  then  a  lad  of  only  eight  summers. 
The  family  settled  in  what  is  now  Bon  pas  Town- 
ship, where  the  father  entered  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment and  began  the  development  of  a  farm. 

Elbert  was  educated  in  a  log-cabin  school,  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
frontier  life.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  par- 
ents until  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  then  began 
clerking  in  a  grocery  store.  He  then  traveled  for 
a  year  and  a-half,  after  which  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine,  completing  his  education  in  that 
line  after  a  two-years  course  in  New  York.  He 
was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '58  from  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  after  which  he 
opened  an  office  and  practiced  in  his  native  city 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  When  the  Un- 
ion was  in  danger  and  his  country  needed  bis  ser- 
vices, he  responded  to  the  call  for  aid,  in  August, 
1862,  and  became  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  New  York  In- 
fantry. He  was  Acting-Surgeon  of  the  regiment 


most  of  the  time.  In  June,  1864,  he  was  attached 
to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

When  the  war  was  over  Dr.  Rowland  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Noble,  Richland  Count}7,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for 
fifteen  years.  He  then  came  to  Olney,  where  lie 
has  since  resided.  He  belongs  to  the  Centennial 
Medical  Society,  and  to  the  County  Medical  Soci- 
ety, of  which  he  was  Chairman  twenty-one  years. 
The  Doctor  ranks  high  in  his  profession,  and  his 
skill  and  ability  are  acknowledged  by  a  large  and 
constantly  increasing  practice. 

In  his  political  affiliations  the  Doctor  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat. He  served  as  a  member  of  the  Thirty -third 
General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  to  which  he  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  twelve  hundred  and 
sixty-two.  He  received  the  unanimous  vote  of 
the  convention  to  which  he  was  nominated,  and 
was  then  elected  by  a  very  flattering  majority, 
as  has  been  seen.  His  great  personal  popularity 
and  the  confidence  and  high  regard  reposed  in  him 
by  his  fellow-citizens  are  shown  by  the  fact  that 
this  was  the  first  time  the  District  ever  went  so 
strongly  Democratic. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  1862,  in  Bridgeport, 
Conn.,  Dr.  Rowland  married  Miss  Kate  Mallary, 
only  daughter  of  Sherman  Mallary,  a  real-estate 
dealer  of  New  York.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Stan- 
ford County,  Conn.  Five  children  have  been  born 
of  their  union:  Kate,  wife  of  A.  B.  Roberts,  a  law- 
yer of  St.  Paul,  Minn.;  Theresa,  wife  of  E.  E.  Ed- 
wards, of  Evanston,  111.;  Charles  T.,  a  druggist; 
Edna  and  Elbert.  The  mother  of  this  family  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  June  7,  1891.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Swedenborgian  Church,  to  which 
the  Doctor  and  his  daughter  also  belong. 

Dr.  Rowland  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its  up- 
building. The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  for  twenty-one  3'ears  he  served  in 
an  efficient  manner  as  School  Director.  He  is  now 
serving  as  Health  Officer,  a  position  lie  has  filled 
for  twelve  years.  The  Doctor  was  the  organizer  of 
the  United  States  Board  of  Pension  Examiners, 
and  was  its  President  for  three  years.  Socially  he 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  a  member  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.;  Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  and  the 
Council.  He  also  holds  membership  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  has  been  en- 
gaged iu  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  in 
this  count3' since  September,  1864,  and  lias  worked 
his  way  steadily  upward  until  he  now  holds  a  rank 
among  his  professional  brethren  of  which  he  may 
well  be  proud. 


ROBERT  S.  TEDFORD  is  a  well-known  far- 
mer of  Preston  Township,  Richland 
County,  living  on  section  29.  The  record 
of  his  life  is  as  follows:  Fie  was  born  on 
the  14th  of  February,  1847,  in  Brent  Count}-, 
Tenn.,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Rebecca  (Mc- 
Clery)  Tedford,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  same 
State.  The  family  is  of  Irish  extraction.  In 
1853,  when  our  subject  was  six  years  of  age,  the 
parents  left  their  home  in  the  South  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Crawford  County,  111.  Of  their 
ten  children,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Hannah,  Nancy  and 
Alexander  are  now  deceased.  Those  still  living 
are  Margaret,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Robert  S.  and 
John. 

The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  Robert  S. 
Tedford  spent  almost  entirely  in  Crawford 
County,  wliere  he  was  early  inured  to  the  labors  of 
farm  life.  Although  he  attended  school  to  a  lim- 
ited extent,  he  is  mostly  self  educated,  having  ac- 
quired a  good  practical  knowledge  through  ex- 
perience, reading  and  observation.  Under  the  pa- 
rental roof  he  remained  until  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  when  he  began  life  for  himself  in  Crawford 
County  as  a  farmer.  In  1869,  he  chose  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  Miss  Mary 
Duncan  becoming  his  wife,  but  after  a  short  mar- 
ried life  of  ten  years,  she  died  in  1879.  Her  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Duncan  ville  Cemetery, 
of  Crawford  County.  Three  children,  a  son  and 
two  daughters,  Laura,  Anna  and  Robert,  were 
born  of  their  union,  and  are  all  yet  living.  In 


1880,  Mr.  Tedford  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Orpha  Cravins,  widow  of  Harry  Cravins  and 
a  daughter  of  John  "and  Catherine  (Alvis)  Breed- 
love.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  by  three  chil- 
dren, Effie,  Luther  and  Ernest.  Mrs.  Tedford  was 
born  in  Gibson  County,  Ind.,  and  came  to  Jasper 
County,  111.,  with  her  parents  when  four  years  of 
age.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  the  Hoosier 
State. 

It  was  in  1880  that  Mr.  Tedford  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Richland  County.  He  purchased  one 
hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  of  land  on  section 
29,  Preston  Township,  and  locating  thereon  has 
since  made  the  place  his  home.  He  carries  on 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  His  land  is  a 
valuable  tract  and  the  rich  and  fertile  fields  and 
the  many  improvements  upon  the  place  indicate 
that  the  owner  is  a  man  of  practical  and  progress- 
ive ideas.  He  possesses  good  business  and  execu- 
tive ability  and  therefore  has  won  prosperity. 

Mr.  Tedford  votes  with  the  Republican  party, 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to 
devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Lodge  and  also  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Although  his  residence  in  this  community  has 
been  comparatively  short,  he  has  nevertheless 
formed  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  those  who  know 
him  speak  of  him  as  a  straightforward,  honorable 
man  and  a  valued  citizen. 


w 


^ILLIAM  A.  JACKSON,  a  farmer,  brick 
mason  and  plasterer,  residing  on  section 
31,  Wade  Township,  Jasper  County,  was 
born  on  the  30th  of  August,  1846,  in  Davies  County, 
Ind.  He  was  left  an  orphan  when  a  lad  of  seven 
summers  and  at  a  very  early  age  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources.  In  his  youth  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, going  first  to  Robinson,  Crawford  County. 
His  school  privileges  were  quite  limited  and  his 
education  has  been  mostly  acquired  since  he  has 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity.  In  his  early  life  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


291 


learned  the  trade  of  a  brick  mason  and  plasterer  in 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  serving  a  three-years  appren- 
ticeship and  then  working  for  three  years  under 
instruction.  About  1867  he  went  to  Efflngham 
and  embarked  in  business  for  himself.  Many  of 
the  business  houses  and  private  residences  in  that 
city  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enter- 
prise. 

For  nine  years  Mr.  Jackson  worked  in  Effing- 
ham,  after  which  he  determined  to  seek  a  home 
elsewhere.  It  was  in  1877  that  he  came  to  Jasper 
County,  purchased  land  and  located  upon  the 
farm  which  is  now  his  home.  He  built  and  fenced 
the  entire  amount  and  placed  acre  after  acre  under 
the  plow  until  the  entire  amount  was  highly  cul- 
tivated. He  has  a  pleasant  and  substantial  resi- 
dence upon  the  place  and  all  other  modern  im- 
provements that  surround  the  home  of  a  progress- 
ive citizen.  In  the  home  farm  are  sixty  acres  of 
valuable  land,  and  in  addition  to  this  he  owns  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  which  is  now  rented. 
Leaving  his  sons  to  operate  the  farm,  Mr.  Jackson 
works  at  his  trade  during  the  summer  months. 
Since  locating  in  this  county  he  has  followed  that 
business  in  Newton  and  has  aided  in  erecting  some 
of  its  best  public  buildings  and  residences,  includ- 
ing the  court  house,  schoolhouse,  Church  of  St. 
Marie,  and  other  public  and  private  edifices.  Mr. 
Jackson  is  considered  one  of  the  best  workmen  in 
his  line  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1871,  in  Newton, 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Nannie  Conway,  a  native  of  Crawford  County, 
Ind.,  who  came  to  Illinois  when  a  child  of  five 
years  with  her  father,  Green  Conway,  who  settled 
upon  a  farm  in  Wade  Township,  Jasper  County, 
and  there  reared  his  f  amity.  Mrs.  Jackson  is  a 
lady  of  excellent  education,  has  superior  accom- 
plishments and  has  been  a  successful  music  teacher. 
Four  children  have  been  born  of  this  union. 
Charles  and  Orrin  R.  operate  the  home  farm  and 
are  learning  the  brick  mason's  trade  with  their 
father.  John  W.  and  Lewis  M.  are  the  younger 
members  of  the  family. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Sandy 
Creek  First  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Jackson  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  has  twice  filled  all  of  the  different 


chairs  in  the  order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Red  Men's  Lodge,  of  Efflngham,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  Lodge,  of  Newton.  In  politics  he  is 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  We  see  in 
Mr.  Jackson  a  self-made  man,  who  at  a  very  early 
age  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and 
forced  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  We 
thus  see  that  whatever  success  that  he  has  achieved 
in  life  is  due  to  his  own  efforts  and  it  is  not  a  lit- 
tle. His  career  has  been  a  prosperous  one  and  has 
been  characterized  by  an  honest  and  upright 
course  that  has  gained  him  the  confidence  and 
good-will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought 
in  contact. 


V.  JOHNSON,  who  follows  farming  on 
section  14,  Decker  County,  has  the  honor 
of  being  one  of  Richland  County's  native 
citizens  and  one  of  her  pioneers.  He 
was  born  December  28,  1832,  in  Madison  Town- 
ship, and  few  there  are  whose  birth  occurred  in 
this  locality  that  have  so  long  here  resided.  His 
father,  Moses  Johnson,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  from  Kentucky  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early 
day.  He  married  Sarah  Mason,  who  was  born  in 
the  Keystone  State  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Parkersburgh,  111.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a  fanner  and 
stock-raiser.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  died  in  1850.  His  wife 
survived  him  many  years,  passing  away  in  1885, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  There  were  eight 
children  in  the  family,  but  only  two  are  now  liv- 
ing: A.  V.  and  Moses,  who  makes  his  home  in 
Olney. 

.The  subject  of  this  sketch  moved  into  the 
neighborhood  which  is  still  his  home  when  quite 
a  young  lad.  There  were  very  few  houses  upon 
the  prairies  and  one  could  ride  for  miles  without 
a  settlement  to  intercept  his  progress.  He  has 
borne  all  the  experiences  and  hardships  of  pio- 
neer life,  and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  almost 
the  entire  development  of  the  county.  His  edu- 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cational  privileges  were  quite  limited.  He  at- 
tended the  subscription  schools,  which  were  held 
in  a  log  building  with  slab  seats  and  other  primi- 
tive furniture.  His  father  died  when  he  was  fif- 
teen years  of  age,  and  our  subject  remained  with 
his  mother,  aiding  her  in  the  development  and 
care  of  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage. 

In  1856  Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Rawlins,  one  of  Richland  County's  fail- 
daughters,  whose  parents  came  from  Ohio  to  Illi- 
nois in  an  early  day.  Unto  them  were  born  four 
children:  Sarah  M.,  now  the  wife  of  Jasper  Henry, 
an  agriculturist  of  Decker  Township;  Addie,  who 
keeps  house  for  her  father;  Jennie,  wife  of  John 
Holmes,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Decker 
Township;  and  Andrew  L.,  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  old  home  farm,  and  to  its  cultivation 
and  improvement  he  has  since  devoted  his  ener- 
gies. He  has  also  engaged  in  stock-dealing  to 
some  extent  and  has  met  with  excellent  success  in 
that  branch  of  his  business.  He  started  with  only 
eighty  acres,  but  as  his  financial  resources  have 
increased,  he  has  made  additional  purchases  from 
time  to  time  until  his  landed  possessions  now  ag- 
gregate twelve  hundred  acres.  He  started  out  in  life 
empty-handed,  and  to  his  own  efforts  is  due  his 
prosperity.  He  has  labored  earnestly  for  success, 
has  overcome  the  difficulties  in  his  path  by  a  de- 
termined will  and  enterprise,  and  the  handsome 
competence  which  he  now  has  is  certainly  well 
merited,  being  the  reward  of  honest  industry. 

In  1890  Mr.  Johnson  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  away  on  the  9th 
of  November  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  she  was  a  consistent  member.  Besides 
her  family  she  left  many  warm  friends  to  mourn 
her  loss,  for  she  was  a  most  estimable  lady.  Mr. 
Johnson  also  holds  membership  with  the  church 
at  Union  Chapel.  He  takes  an  active  part  in  re- 
ligious work  and  the  moral  upbuilding  of  the 
community,  and  has  given  liberally  of  his  means 
in  support  of  every  enterprise  calculated  to  prove 
of  public  benefit.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  James  Buchanan,  and  has  since  been  a 
stanch  Democrat.  He  faithfully  filled  the  office 
of  Supervisor  for  six  years,  but  has  never  sought 


public  preferment.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge  of  Noble,  and  is  accounted 
one  of  the  wealthy  and  most  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Richland  County. 


LVIN  CLEM,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
and  representative  citizens  of  Richland 
County,  residing  on  section  9,  Olney 
Township,  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of 
his  birth,  which  occurred  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1839,  in  Delaware  County.  His  parents  are  Joel 
and  Magdaline  (Kesler)  Clem.  The  father  was 
born  in  Virginia,  November  7,  1806,  and  during 
his  youth  he  worked  on  the  farm  and  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  alternate!}'  until  he  had  attained  to 
man's  estate,  when  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  old 
home  and  went  to  Ohio.  He  was  there  married, 
and  remained  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Delaware  Count}',  Ind.  Purchasing  a 
farm,  he  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  1853, 
which  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Richland 
County.  Here  he  bought  a  farm,  upon  which  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  March  20, 
1858.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  October 
11,  1811,  died  on  the  llth  of  March,  1876,  in  this 
county.  Both  parents  were  of  German  extraction. 

Our  subject  is  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  num- 
bering four  sons  and  five  daughters.  No  event  of 
special  importance  occurred  during  his  youth, 
which  was  quietly  passed  on  his  father's  farm. 
On  the  14th  of  August,  1860,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  Feutz,  a  native  of  Switzerland, 
born  February  9,  1840.  Her  parents,  William  and 
Catherine  (Lanner)  Feutz,  emigrated  to  America, 
and  coming  direct  to  this  county,  located  on  a 
farm,  where  the  former  is  still  living,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  The  wife  and  mother  was 
called  from  the  shores  of  time  October  22,  1855, 
leaving  many  warm  friends  to  mourn  her  loss. 

Since  coming  to  this  count}',  Mr.  Clem  has  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


293 


suits,  and  his  well-directed  efforts  and  enterprise 
and  good  management  have  brought  him  a  com- 
fortable competence,  which  is  certainly  well  de- 
served. He  now  owns  and  operates  forty  acres  of 
good  land,  which  adjoins  the  corporation  limits  of 
the  city  of  Olney,  and  his  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
improved  in  the  locality.  The  place  is  very  de- 
sirably located,  for  lie  has  all  the  comforts  of  farm 
life,  and  those  of  city  life  are  easily  attainable.  His 
home  is  a  beautiful  residence,  and  stands  as  a 
monument  to  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the 
owner. 

About  1883  Mr.  Clem  commenced  the  manufac- 
ture of  tile,  which  was  the  first  industry  of  the  kind 
established  in  Richland  County,  and  continued 
this  business  until  the  fall  of  1889.  He  was  one 
of  the  original  incorporators  of  the  Olney  Brick 
and  Tile  Company,  and  is  still  one  of  its  stock- 
holders. He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  with  his 
father,  and  worked  at  it  for  several  years,  assist- 
ing in  building  a  number  of  residences  in  Olney, 
and  he  still  devotes  some  of  his  time  to  this  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Clem  is  a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church,  and  his  wife  holds  membership  with  the 
Evangelical  Church.  They  are  highly  respected 
citizens,  widely  and  favorably  known.  Mr.  Clem 
has  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  is  a  warm  advocate  of  temperance 
principles,  and  embodies  his  views  on  that  ques- 
tion in  the  ballot  which  he  deposits  for  the  Prohi- 
bition party. 


OHN  SONNER,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Richland  County  and  a  leading  and  influ- 
ential farmer  residing  on  section  3,  Decker 
Township,  was  born  in  1827  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Anthony 
Sonner,  emigrated  from  Germany  to  America  in 
Colonial  days,  and  aided  the  Colonies  in  their 
struggle  for  independence,  after  which  he  received 


a  pension  in  recognition  of  his  faithful  service. 
He  died  in  Ohio.  The  father  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  after  attaining  to 
mature  years  entered  land,  from  which  he  devel- 
oped and  improved  a  good  farm.  He  married 
Tena  Ambrose,  also  of  German  descent  and  the 
daughter  of  a  Revolutionary  hero,  who  located  in 
an  early  day  in  Woodstock,  Va.  Mr.  Sonner  ran 
a  large  mill  and  brought  to  Ohio  the  first  engine 
used  in  that  State.  His  family  and  his  wife's 
people  were  all  prominent  workers  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  the  parents  of  our  subject 
labored  earnestly  in  the  cause  of  Christianity. 
Mr.  Sonner  was  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability 
and  became  quite  wealthy. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  a  family  of  six  sons 
and  two  daughters,  including  William  of  Highland 
County,  Ohio;  George,  of  Indiana;  Anthony,  a 
miller  of  Pike  County,  111.;  Betsy,  wife  of  Dr. 
Sanderson,  of  Noble;  Isaac,  a  soldier  of  the  late 
war,  now  living  in  Highland  County;  Rachel,  wife 
of  Dr.  Palmer,  of  Wakefield,  111.;  and  Mathias,  who 
lives  near  Macon,  Mo.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
"boys  in  blue"  and  served  throughout  the  strug- 
gle. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm  and  in  the  mill.  He  was 
early  inured  to  hard  labor,  and  since  quite  young 
has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  At  the  age 
of  twelve  he  drove  a  four-horse  team,  used  in 
hauling  flour.  He  remained  at  home  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  when  he  carne  West  by  way  of 
the  Ohio  River  to  Evansville,  Ind.,  then  by  rail 
to  Vincennes,  and  on  by  team  until  reaching  his 
destination  in  Richland  County.  This  was  in 
1859.  Purchasing  his  present  farm,  he  obtained 
possession  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  upon 
which  was  a  log  cabin,  that  still  stands  near  his 
present  handsome  residence  as  a  remnant  of  the 
frontier  life.  Success  crowned  his  efforts,  and  as 
his  financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  his 
farm  until  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and  ninety 
acres.  He  has  also  given  considerable  land  to  his 
three  sons.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  embark  in 
fruit-growing  in  this  locality. 

When  twenty-four  years  of  age,  Mr.  Sonner. 
married  Amelia  Kaley,  who  was  born  in  Highland 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


County,  Ohio,  and  is  of  German  descent.  Five 
children  grace  their  union.  Frank  and  Levi  are 
both  farming  in  this  neighborhood;  Rachel  is  the 
wife  of  M.  L.  Taylor;  John  is  an  agriculturist  of 
the  community;  and  Cora  is  still  under  the  paren- 
tal roof.  The  family  is  one  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  this  community.  The  parents  belong  to 
the  United  Brethren  Church  and  were  largely  in- 
strumental in  building  the  house  of  worship  in 
Pleasant  View.  Mr.  Sonner  is  now  serving  as 
Trustee,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  have  been  act- 
ive in  Sunday-school  work.  In  1848  our  subject 
voted  for  Lewis  Cass,  and  was  a  Democrat  until 
1861,  when  he  supported  Lincoln.  Since  that  time 
he  has  been  a  loyal  Republican  and  does  all  in  his 
power  to  insure  the  success  of  his  party.  Charita- 
ble and  benevolent,  he  gives  freely  of  all  his  means 
to  worthy  enterprises,  and  his  well-spent  and  hon- 
orable .life  is.  worthy  of  emulation. 


J'  I  OSEPH  JOURDAN,  an  enterprising  farmer 
residing  on  section  8,  Wade  Township,  is  a 
representative  of  the  oldest  family  in  years 
__  '  of  residence  in  Jasper  County.  The  name 
of  Jourdan  has  long  been  connected  with  the  his- 
tory of  this  community.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, James  Jourdan,  came  here  in  1826.  He  was 
born  in  Knox  County,  Ind.,  and  there  grew  to 
manhood.  After  his  marriage  he  followed  farming 
in  his  native  State  for  a  year  and  then  came  to 
Illinois.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Jasper  County 
and,  as  before  stated,  was  its  first  permanent  resi- 
dent. He  had  married  Melinda  Scott,  who  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  in  that  State  spent  the 
first  fourteen  years  of  her  life,  afterward  going  to 
Indiana.  Several  years  after  his  arrival  here,  Mr. 
Jourdan  entered  land  from  the  Government  and 
made  a  permanent  location  on  the  farm  which  is 
now  the  home  of  his  son  Joseph.  The  tract  was 
raw  prairie  in  its  primitive  condition,  but  he  at 
once  began  its  development  and  soon  transformed 


a  considerable  portion  of  it  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields.  His  last  days  were  spent  upon  the  old 
homestead.  Mrs.  Jourdan  long  survived  her  hus- 
band and  cared  for  her  children  until  they  were 
able  to  care  for  themselves.  She  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  in  1881,  and  her  remains  were  in- 
terred by  those  of  her  husband  in  the  Yanderhoof 
Cemetery.  Thus  two  worthy  pioneers  passed 
away,  but  they  performed  an  important  work  in 
Jasper  County  in  opening  it  up  to  settlement  and 
there  names  should  ever  have  a  prominent  place 
upon  the  pages  of  its  history. 

Joseph  Jourdan  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  who  grew  to  mature  years,  of 
whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living. 
He  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  under  the  par- 
ental roof  and  was  reared  among  the  wild  scenes 
of  the  frontier.  He  remained  with  his  mother  un- 
til 1862,  when,  his  elder  brother  having  gone  to 
the  war,  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  business 
of  the  family.  Since  that  time  he  has  operated 
the  old  homestead,  which  on  the  death  of  his  mo- 
ther he  purchased  of  the  heirs.  The  many  im- 
provements he  has  placed  upon  it  all  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  practical  and  progressive  spirit. 
He  has  built  a  pleasant  residence  and  a  good  barn 
and  added  other  accessories  found  upon  a  model 
farm  of  the  nineteenth  century.  The  old  home- 
stead comprises  ninety  acres  and  in  addition  to 
this  he  owns  two  other  tracts,  one  of  eighty  acres 
and  the  other  of  twenty,  both  highly  improved 
places. 

In  Crooked  Creek  Township,  November  20,  1861, 
Mr.  Jourdan  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Mary 
Musgrove,  who  was  born  in  this  county  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Musgrove.  Her  father  was 
also  a  native  of  this  State,  and  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Jasper  County.  Five  children  have 
been  born  of  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
John  Franklin,  who  is  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Wade  Township;  Nancy  C.,  wife  of  William 
Hinman,  an  agriculturist  of  the  same  township; 
Iredell,  Minnie  and  Thomas,  who  are  still  at 
home. 

As  Mr.  Jourdan  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Jasper  County,  he  has  seen  nearly  its  entire  de- 
velopment from  a  state  of  wilderness.  He  has  also 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


21)5 


aided  in  the  work  of  upbuilding  and  advancement 
and  lias  borne  his  part  in  transforming  its  wild 
lands  into  tracts  of  rich  fertility.  In  his  social 
relations  our  subject  is  connected  with  the  United 
Workmen  and  the  Knights  of  Honor  of  Newton. 
He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of 
the  Republican  party  and  has  supported  its  men 
and  measures  since  casting  his  first  Presidential 
ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860.  Himself 
and  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  to  the  support  of  which  they  contribute 
liberally.  The  Jourdan  family  is  well  known  in 
Jasper  County,  the  Jourdan  household  is  the  abode 
of  hospitality  and  its  members  rank  high  in  the 
social  circles  in  which  they  move. 


>OBERT  JASPER  HENRY,  a  well-known 
farmer  and  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Uichland  County,  who  makes  his  home  on 
§  section  1 1 ,  Decker  Township,  has  the  honor 
of  being  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in 
Crawford  County  in  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert 
llenrv,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  When  his  father  was 
a  young  boy  he  left  his  native  State  and  came  to 
Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  mar- 
ried. In  those  early  days  the  Indians  were  still 
numerous  in  the  neighborhood  and  there  were 
many  hardships  and  trials  incident  to  pioneer  life 
to  be  endured.  In  1865,  when  our  subject  was  a 
lad  of  thirteen  years,  Mr.  Henry  came  with  his 
family  to  Richland  County,  and  located  upon  the 
farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  his  son  Robert. 
Ili.s  last  years  were  spent  in  Missouri,  whither  he 
went  in  the  hopes  of  benefiting  his  health.  His 
death  occurred  about  fifteen  years  ago.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  the  winter  of  1892.  Air.  Henry 
followed  farming  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
his  life,  and  also  engaged  in  dealing  in  horses. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  seventh  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  His 
entire  life  has  been  passed  in  Illinois.  His  early 


boyhood  days  were  spent  on  a  farm  in  Crawford 
County,  but  at  length  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  count}'.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  family, 
and  at  the  death  of  his  father  all  the  business  cares 
and  management  of  affairs  fell  to  him.  The  occu- 
pation to  which  he  was  reared  he  makes  his  life 
work,  and  in  connection  with  general  farming  he 
also  engages  in  stock-dealing,  making  a  specialty 
of  the  purchase  and  sale  of  horses.  His  fine  farm 
comprises  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  rich 
land,  upon  which  is  a  good  orchard  of  twenty-five 
acres. 

In  1880,  in  Decker  Township,  Mr.  Henry  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Johnson,  a 
daughter  of  A.  V.  Johnson,  and  a  native  of  this 
county.  Her  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  the 
neighborhood  which  is  still  her  home.  Two  chil- 
dren grace  their  union,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  Al- 
tie  and  Claude.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  hold  mem- 
bership with  the  Union  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  are  people  of  sterling  worth,  whose  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character  have  won  for  them  an  en- 
viable position  in  social  circles.  Our  subject  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Horace  Greeley,  and 
has  since  been  a  stalwart  Democrat.  He  has  met 
with  good  success  in  his  business  career,  and  his 
good  management  and  enterprise,  supplemented 
by  methodical  business  methods,  have  gained  for 
him  a  handsome  property.  He  is  now  numbered 
among  the  substantial  agriculturists  and  highly 
respected  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he 
makes  his  home. 


"Sl-C  T 


AMES  ELOT  SHARP,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  and  representative  farmers  of  Rich- 
laud  County,  who  owns  and  operates  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  land  on 
sections  2  and  22,  Boupas  Township,  was  born 
near  Owensville,  Gibson  County,  I nd.,  January  15, 
1833.  His  parents,  James  E.  and  Sarah  (Risk) 
Sharp,  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  Sharp 
family  is  of  English  origin.  The  grandparents, 


296 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Elot)  Sharp,  were  both  na- 
tives of  Maryland,  but  the  latter  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent. In  1803  the  Sharps  removed  to  Indiana, 
and  about  five  years  later  the  Elot  family  also 
emigrated  to  that  State. 

It  was  in  January,  1835,  that  the  father  of  our 
subject  came  with  his  family  to  Richland  County, 
111.,  locating  on  section  25,  Madison  Township, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  January,  1879. 
Upon  the  farm  which  he  purchased  he  found  a  log 
house  and  about  thirty  acres  of  cleared  land.  He 
first  bought  one  hundred  acres,  but  made  additions 
to  this  from  time  to  time  until  his  landed  posses- 
sions aggregated  four  hundred  acres.  His  house 
was  built  in  the  form  of  a  fort  for  protection  from 
the  Indians,  but  the  red  men  never  caused  him 
and  his  family  any  trouble.  Thomas  Sharp  was 
the  first  permanent  settler  in  Gibson  County,  Ind. 
The  Cherokee  tribe  then  living  there  was  at  first 
friendly,  but  afterward  joined  Tecumseh  in  the 
war  against  the  whites,  and  James  Sharp,  Sr.,  served 
for  three  months  under  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  War 
of  1812  against  the  Indians,  being  stationed  at 
Ft.  Ellison,  on  the  present  site  of  Vincennes,  Ind. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  March,  1881, 
in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  There  were  six  chil- 
dren in  the  Sharp  family.  Perry,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; John  Wesley;  Mrs.  Lucinda  By  ford;  Hi- 
ram; Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Marshall,  now  deceased;  and 
James  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  about  two 
years  old  when  the  famity  came  to  Richland  County. 
With  them  he  experienced  the  hardships  and  trials 
of  pioneer  life,  being  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes 
of  the  frontier.  His  educational  privileges  were 
very  limited,  the  nearest  schoolhouse  being  three 
miles  away.  He  was  early  inured  to  the  arduous 
labor  of  developing  a  farm,  as  he  assisted  his  fa- 
ther in  clearing  the  laud,  of  which  he  afterward 
inherited  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  af- 
terward added  to  this  until  he  was  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  acres,  two  hundred  acres  of  which 
he  cleared  and  broke  himself.  In  1886  he  sold 
that  land  and  bought  his  present  farm,  which  he 
has  greatly  improved,  making  it  one  of  the  best  in 
the  locality.  He  now  has  one  hundred  and  ten 
acres  under  cultivation,  and  the  remaining  fifty 


acres  are  pasture  and  timberland.  In  1890  he 
built  a  commodious  and  pleasant  residence,  which 
is  the  abode  of  hospitality. 

Mrs.  Sharp,  the  mistress  of  this  home,  was  in 
her  maidenhood  Miss  Celia  J.  Pullen,  of  Parkers- 
burgh.  She,  too,  was  a  native  of  Gibson  County, 
Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of  William  H.  Pullen,  who 
was  born  in  Georgia.  She  became  the  wife  of 
our  subject  November  11,  1856,  and  by  their  un- 
ion were  born  nine  children,  of  whom  four  died 
in  infancy.  Those  living  are:  George  W.;  Charles 
H.;  Eva  A.,  wife  of  C.  Walter;  James  T.  and  Le- 
ander  F. 

Mr.  Sharp  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Fremont,  and  has  supported  each  candidate 
of  the  Republican  party  for  the  Presidency  since 
that  time.  He  is  independent  in  local  politics, 
and  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  He  prefers 
to  devote  his  energies  to  his  business  interests,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  excellent  success. 


W.  ARMSEY,  the  efficient  County 
Surveyor  of  Richland  County,  now  a  resi- 
dent  of  Olney,  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia. 
He  was  born  in  Marion  County,  on  the  5th  of  Au- 
gust, 1837,  and  was  the  eighth  in  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  His 
father,  George  Armsey,  was  born  in  Maryland,  of 
German  ancestry,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
When  a  boy,  he  left  his  native  State  and  emi- 
grated to  Virginia,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
On  the  20th  of  March,  1823,  he  was  mairied  to 
Miss  Sophia  May,  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  The  family  remained  in  that  State 
until  1852,  when  they  removed  to  Ohio,  and  four 
years  later  to  Indiana. 

In  April,  1864,  Mr.  Armsey  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, and  served  nine  months,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability,  his  health  hav- 
ing failed  him.  He  was  over  sixty  years  of  age 
when  he  entered  the  service.  In  1865  ihey  came 


POETRATT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


297 


to  Illinois,  settling  in  Richland  County,  where 
Mrs.  Armsey  died  in  May,  1866,  and  Mr.  Armsey 
passed  away  in  September,  1867.  Both  were  in- 
terred in  the  German  cemetery  near  Olney.  Of 
their  family  only  six  are  now  living:  Caroline, 
wife  of  Henry  M.  Ross,  a  farmer  of  West  Virginia; 
Oliver,  a  farmer  of  Ohio;  Sarah,  widow  of  Thomas 
Holt,  and  a  resident  of  Olney;  Lucinda,  wife  of 
Vincent  Slazor,  who  resides  in  Nebraska;  George 
W.;  and  Eveline,  who  wedded  John  Shively,  and 
lives  in  Chicago,  111. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and  re- 
mained at  home  assisting  his  father  until  his 
twenty-eighth  year.  In  1861,  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country  as  a  teamster  of  the  Fifteen 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  thus  served  until  the  spring 
of  1862,  when,  his  time  having  expired,  he  re-en- 
listed in  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
fifth  Indiana  Regiment,  in  which  he  served  nine 
months.  On  the  18th  of  March,  1864,  he  joined 
Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth-fourth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  and  rose 
to  the  rank  of  Orderly-Sergeant. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Armsey  came  to 
Olney  and  engaged  in  carpenter  work,  a  trade  he 
had  learned  in  Indiana,  and  which  he  has  since 
followed.  In  December,  1868,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Sarah  J.  Lanear,  of  Richland  Countj', 
whose  death  occurred  on  the  8th  of  the  following 
June.  On  the  30th  of  June,  1870,  he  married  Mrs. 
Adams,  widow  of  John  Adams,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Loretta  M.  Banks,  a  native  of  West  Vir- 
ginia. This  union  has  been  blessed  with  a  daugh- 
ter, Clara  Lottie,  who  was  born  October  2,  1871, 
and  is  now  the  wife  of-J.  R.  Heinselman,  a  school 
teacher  and  farmer  of  Richland  County.  Mrs. 
Armsey  had  one  son  by  her  first  marriage,  Elmer 
E.  Adams,  who  married  Miss  Jennie  Cazel,  of  Ol- 
ney, October  23,  1887,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Chicago.  The}'  have  one  child,  Alva  Lee. 

Mrs.  Armsey 's  parents  were  Andrew  Edward  and 
Barbara  (Sager)  Banks.  The  former  was  born  at 
Greencastle,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  June  6,1815, 
and  is  of  Irish  descent,  and  the  latter  was  born 
August  7,  1814,  in  Washington  County,  Md.,  and 
was  of  German  origin,  the  family  having  been 


founded  in  America  by  her  grandfather,  Jacob 
Sager,  who  was  born  in  Hesse,  Germany,  and 
served  as  a  soldier  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Banks  were  married  in  Maryland, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1864,  settling  in  Richland 
County,  where  Mrs.  Banks  died  March  8,  1881. 
They  reared  a  family  of  four  children,  one  son  and 
three  daughters,  and  all  are  yet  living.  Eliza  Jane, 
is  the  widow  of  F.  G.  Brownell,  and  resides  at  La 
Fayette,Ind.;  Loretta  Minerva,  who  was  a  success- 
ful teacher,  married  John  Adams,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
May  14,  1863,  and  after  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  7,  1868,  became  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Armsey; 
Jasper  Columbus  lives  in  Olney;  and  Alice  Van- 
loon  is  the  wife  of  J.  F.  Clem,  a  farmer  of  Ol- 
ney Township. 

Mr.  Armsey  has  worked  at  his  trade  much  of  his 
time,  and,  being  a  skillful  workman,  has  attained 
success  in  that  business.  For  some  years  past  he 
has  studied  surveying,  and  has  thoroughly  fitted 
himself  for  the  position  to  which  he  was  elected 
in  1892.  He  is  proving  an  efficient  officer,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 
Mr.  Armsey  is  a  self-made  man,  for  he  began  life 
for  himself  empty-handed,  and  his  success  i?  due  to 
his  industry,  enterprise  and  well-directed  efforts. 
He  owns  a  beautiful  country  house  and  farm,  com- 
prising one  hundred  acres  of  rich  land,  pleasantly 
situated  about  half  a  mile  southwest  of  the  city 
limits,  besides  a  neat  and  comfortable  residence  in 
Olney.  His  moral,  upright  life  and  sterling  in- 
tegrity have  won  for  him  the  high  esteem  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends. 


AUL  WEIDNER,  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Denver  Township,  Richland  County,  liv- 
ing on  section  18,  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens,  was  born  in  Vanderburg 
County,  Ind.,  May  22,  1846,  and  is  one  of  seven 
children,  whose  parents  were  A'dam  and  Cather- 
ine (Seigler)  Weidner.  They  were  both  natives 
of  Germany,  and  in  that  country  their  marriage 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  celebrated.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade.  In  1835  he  came  with  his  family  to  Amer- 
ica,'and  in  Indiana  purchased  wild  land,  from 
which  he  developed  a  farm,  making  his  home 
thereon  until  1855.  He  then  came  by  wagon  to 
Illinois,  driving  with  him  thirty-five  head  of 
sheep  and  twenty  head  of  cattle.  He  purchased 
land  at  $4  per  acre  and  built  a  double-log  cabin, 
which  is  still  standing.  There  were  no  improve- 
ments upon  the  place,  but  his  labors  soon  worked 
a  great  transformation,  and  at  his  death  he  owned 
an  excellent  farm.  At  one  time  he  owned  six 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  began  life 
empty-handed,  but  in  the  legitimate  channels  of 
business  achieved  wealth.  He  was  a  life-long 
Democrat  and  a  good  citizen.  His  wife  died  in 
1865,  and  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest  February 
2,  1873.  Of  their  family,  Agnes  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Rein  hard,  who  occupies  the  old  homestead 
in  Indiana;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Kipling,  of 
Noble  Township;  Philip  runs  a  carriage  factory 
in  Salem  Springs,  111.;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jo 
Klinger,  of  Clay  County;  Mrs.  Margaret  Negley 
is  living  in  Denver  Township;  Adam  is  a  farmer 
of  Comanche  County,  Tex.;  and  Paul  completes 
the  family. 

Our  subject  was  only  ten  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Illinois.  As  soon  as  he  was  old  enough 
to  manage  the  plow,  he  began  work  in  the  fields, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  farm  labor.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  clearing  and  opening  up 
his  present  farm,  upon  which  he  has  lived  since 
his  boyhood.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1866,  in  Den- 
ver Township,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sallie  Dash,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  April 
20,  1849,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Adam  Dash,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany.  They  have  four  children.  John, 
born  May  6,  1867,  married  Annie  Ament  and  is 
a  farmer  of  Denver  Township;  Adam,  born  June 
15,  1869,  is  married;  Rachel,  born  February  5, 
1871,  died  October  9,  1875;  George,  horn  Octo- 
ber 2,  1872,  died  October  29,  1872;  Joseph,  born 
May  1,  1875,  is  at  home;  Paul  Edward,  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1882,  died  March  27,  1883;  and  Dora 
M.  was  born  August  18,  1889. 

The  Weidner  family  has  a  fine  home  situated 
on  an  excellent  farm  of  three  hundred  and  eighty- 


seven  acres.  In  addition  to  the  pleasant  resi- 
dence, there  are  good  barns  and  outbuildings,  and 
all  the  modern  improvements  and  equipments 
which  go  to  make  up  a  model  farm  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  Mr.  Weidner  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  ability  and  has  now  become  a  wealthy 
citizen,  owing  to  his  good  management,  enter- 
prise and  industry.  In  1868  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  and  he  supported  the  Demo- 
cratic party  until  1892,  when  he  voted  for  Gen. 
Weaver.  He  is  a  man  of  firm  convictions,  un- 
wavering in  his  support  of  what  he  believes  to  be 
right.  His  business  career  has  been  a  straight- 
forward and  honorable  one,  and  in  all  the  rela- 
tions of  life  he  has  gained  the  confidence  and 
good-will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact. 


\w?  EANDER  D.  WHLTTAKER,  who  is  num- 
I  (Si  bered  among  the  leading  farmers  of  Rich- 
IILj^.  iand  County,  residing  on  section  3,  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county  since  1853,  and  has 
lived  on  his  present  farm  almost  continuously 
since  October,  1855.  He  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  the  development  of  the  county  and 
has  been  an  eye-witness  of  much  of  its  growth  and 
progress.  He  was  born  in  Robb  Township,  Posey 
County,  Ind.,  April  8,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  A.  (Defur)  Whittaker.  The  father  went 
to  Indiana  in  1811,  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years. 
Subsequently,  he  made  several  trips  to  North 
Carolina  on  horseback  and  often  encamped  with 
the  Indians  while  en  route.  He  was  married  Au- 
gust 20,  1822,  to  Mary  Defur,  who  was  born  March 
29,  1805.  She  died  in  Steubenville,  Ind.,  August 
15,  1851.  Twelve  children  have  been  born  of  that 
union,  as  follows:  Esther  C.,  now  the  wife  of  T. 
Thompson;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Shelby;  Leander  D., 
of  this  sketch;  Robert  A.,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  First  Indiana  Cavalry  and  died  at  Pilot  Knob 
during  the  service;  Isaac  N.,  of  Richland  County; 
James  A.;  George  W.,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle 


^ 


POKTKA1T  AXI>  BIWKAPHICAL 


of  Mark*'  Milk,  Ark,,  during  the  late  war;  William 
1;.  I  ;  Mary  *.,  wife  of  J.  W.  Beat;  Karab  F.,  wife 
of  II.  C.  I  l»rlow;  Eugene  #.;  cad  one  who  died  in 
infancy.  After  the  death  of  hi*  first  wife,  Mr, 
WhiUaker  married  Mr*.  Eliza  ( AxUsn)  Howe,  and 
unto  llK-'fn  were  born  two  children,  of  wbon  one 
died  in  infancy.  The  other,  Mattie,  dkd  at  the 
home  of  our  subject.  November  5,  1888,  It  w«# 
in  185,1  that  Jacob  Wbittakereame  with  bis  family 
u>  Ricbland  County,  locating  in  Madison  Town- 
•hip,  where  he  recided  until  called  to  the  home 
beyond,  1 1 »  death  occurred  October  8,  1*6 1.  at 
the  age  of  sixty-three  yean. 

Under  toe  parental  roof  Leander  WbiUaker 
grew  to  manhood.  He  came  with  hi*  parent*  to 
thus  county  in  1853,  and,  as  before  stated,  located 
upon  bis  present  farm  in  October,  1855,  On  the 
15th  of  July  previous,  be  was  married,  bis  wife  be- 
ing a  native  of  Indiana,  and  their  union  was 
Mewed  with  six  children,  bat  Eva,  Lulu  and  one 
unnamed  died  in  infancy.  Ada,  the  eldest,  i*  the 
wife  of  W.  P.  Jackson;  May  is  the  wife  of  C,  E. 
Mattoon;  and  Page,  the  only  son,  married  Miss 
Anna  E.  Webber,  and  resides  on  the  homestead 
farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WbiUaker  also  have  seven 
grandchildren. 

Our  subject  continued  bis  farming  operations 
nntil  1874,  when  be  removed  to  Olney  in  order  to 
give  his  children  better  educational  privileges, and 
there  resided  for  five  years.  In  1879  be  returned 
to  the  farm  and  has  since  devoted  bis  energies  to 
igrieultural  pursuit*.  He  now  owns  two  hundred 
tnd  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  of  this  two  hundred 
ire  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  ten  acres  the  entire  amount  was  im- 
proved and  developed  by  the  owner.  After  bis 
marriage,  which  took  place  in  Mt,  Veraon,  ImL, 
he  brought  bis  bride  and  all  their  possessions  to 
Illinois  in  a  wagon,  and  they  began  their  domestic 
life  in  a  small  log  cabin,  which  be  bad  previously 
built.  From  morning  till  night  the  young  husband 
labored  in  the  field,  and  as  the  yean  went  by  the 
one*  raw  tract  was  transformed  into  rich  and  fer- 
tile fields,  which  yield  abundant  harvests.  The 
labor  of  Mr.  and  Mr*.  WbiUaker  has  brought  to 
them  a  comfortable  competence. 

This  worthy  couple  are  among  the  most  highly 

14 


respected  citizen*  of  the  community.  He  i*  a 
member  of  the  Xew  Church,  and  fait  wife  m  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Metbodwt  Church,  He  CM*  hfe  fist 
Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Fremont  and  supported 
the  KepoMicaa  party  nntil  1892.  when  be  voted 
for  Gen,  Weaver,  Mr*.  Wnrttaker  takes  quite  an 
active  interest  in  Prohibition  work,  She  joined  a 
temperance  society  at  tl*  age  of  seven  yean,  and 
has  since  been  identified  with  the  erase.  In  every- 
thing tending  to  benefit  the  community  or  ad- 
vance its  best  interest*,  Mr,  and  Mr*.  WbiUaker 
bear  their  part,  and  in  the  community  where  they 
have  so  long  make  their  home  they  have  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  who 
them  highly. 


ALVIK  AL'STIX  k  the  junior  member  of 
the  well-known  firm  of  Edward  £  Calvin 
Austin,  These  gentlemen  are  proprietors 
of  the  Effingbam  Planing  Mill  Company,  and  our 
subject  i»  a  shareholder  and  director  in  other  local 
industrial  corporations.  In  fact,  be  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  tbi*  place, 
an  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen,  who  well 
deserves  representation  in  the  history  of  bis 
adopted  county. 

Mr.  Austin  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  was  bom  on  Walnut  Hill,  in  Cincinnati.  April 
10,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Seneca  aud  Julia  (Burnett) 
Austin.  Further  mention  is  made  of  his  parents 
in  the  sketch  of  Edward  Austin,  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  In  early  childhood  our  subject  ac- 
companied bis  parents  to  his  father's  farm,  which 
was  situated  in  Kentucky,  just  across  the  river 
from  Cincinnati,  In  February,  18*4,  the  family 
removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Jasper  County, 
where  they  spent  two  yean.  During  that 
our  subject  continued  bis  studies  in  the 
schools,  after  which  be  came  to  Etuugham  with  hut 
parents.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  18**.  He' 
then  became  a  student  in  a  private  school  con- 
ducted by  the  Rev.  &.  R.  BnseH,of  this  city,  where 
bis  literary  education  was  completed. 


302 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  leaving  school,  Mr.  Austin  learned  the  cabi- 
net-maker's trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  four 
years  in  Effingham  and  Mattoon,  111.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  to  learning  the  watch-maker's 
and  jeweler's  trade,  at  which  he  was  employed  for 
a  term  of  two  years.  In  the  summer  of  1875  he 
left  Etlingham  and  went  to  Salem,  N.  Y.,  making 
his  home  with  his  uncle,  Calvin  P.  Austin.  The 
succeeding  two  years  of  his  life  were  thus  spent. 
From  November,  1877,  until  the  spring  of  1880, 
he  wns  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Mattoon, 
111.,  in  company  with  Frank  Kern,  and  the  follow- 
ing year,  1881,  he  entered  the  railroad  shops  of 
the  Indianapolis  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company 
at  Mattoon.  He  worked  on  coach  repairing  until 
the  1st  of  April,  1884,  when  he  again  changed  his 
occupation.  Rejoining  his  old  partner,  Frank 
Kern,  he  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  stocking 
supporters  and  continued  in  that  line  of  business 
until  June,  1886,  when  he  removed  to  Salem,  N.Y. 
There  he  rejoined  his  uncle,  Calvin  P.  Austin, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  his  uncle's  death, 
April  3,  1889.  After  that,  having  been  appointed 
administrator,  he  settled  up  the  estate  of  his  rela- 
tive and  then  returned  to  Effingham  in  October, 
1890,  since  which,  time  he  has  resided  in  this  city. 
He  has  become  prominently  identified  with  various 
local  enterprises,  and  the  business  prosperity  of  the 
place  is  largely  due  to  him.  With  his  brother  Ed- 
ward be  is  half  owner  in  the  Effingham  Planing 
Mill,  which  does  an  annual  business  of  $75,000 
and  upwards.  He  is  also  a  stockholder-and  direc- 
tor in  the  Effingham  Manufacturing  Company,  a 
large  furniture  manufactory,  the  trade  of  which 
has  constantly  increased  until  they  are  now  doing 
an  annual  business  of  150,000.  He  is  also  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Effingham  Milling  Company,  and 
a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  Elfingham  Can- 
ning and  Wood  Package  Company. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  1880,  Mr.  Austin  was 
married  in  Newton,  111.,  the  lady  of  his  choice  be- 
ing Miss  Sarah  E.  Brooks.  She  was  born  in  New- 
ton, and  is  a  daughter  of  John  P.  and  Mary  (Bar- 
rett; Brooks,  who  were  among  the  earl}'  settlers  of 
that  place.  Her  father  died  in  the  year  1879,  but 
the  mother  still  resides  in  Newton,  making  her 
home  with  hor  son,  Charles  E.  Brooks.  Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Austin  have  a  family  of  four  children,  two 
daughters  and  two  sons,  Hattie,  Gordon  Burnett, 
Seneca  Brooks  and  Mary  Louise. 

Mr.  Austin  was  one  of  the  original  movers  in 
securing  a  college  in  Effingham  and  was  one  of  the 
most  liberal  contributors  to  the  same,  while  his 
donations  from  the  beginning  have  been  alike  free 
and  continued.  In  fact,  he  and  his  brother  Ed- 
ward were  so  active  and  liberal  in  regard  to  the 
college  that  it  was  named  in  their  honor  and  is 
known  as  the  Austin  College  and  Normal  Insti- 
tute. The  educational  facilities  of  Effingham  were 
thus  greatly  increased,  and  its  citizens  should  be 
very  grateful  for  this  excellent  addition  to  their 
schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been  an  as- 
pirant for  public  office.  Socially  he  is  a  member 
of  Eureka  Lodge  No.  598,  K.  of  H.,  at  Mattoon, 
111. 

Mr.  Austin  is  the  owner  of  forty  acres  of  valu- 
able land  adjacent  to  the  city  of  Effingham.  In 
1892  he  erected  an  elegant  and  palatial  residence 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  which  is  a  model 
of  beauty,  both  in  exterior  and  interior  design 
and  finish.  It  is  estimated  to  have  cost  upwards 
of  $30,000  and  without  exception  it  is  the  finest 
residence  in  Effingham  County.  It  has  all  the 
modern  conveniences  of  the  best  city  homes  and 
with  its  tasteful  and  elegant  furnishings  it  is  won- 
derfully pleasant  and  attractive.  Mr.  Austin  is  a 
plain,  unassuming  man,  possessed  of  good  judg- 
ment, a  courteous  and  genial  manner,  and  is  highly 
respected  for  his  integrity  and  upright  course  in 
life. 


J|  AMES    C.    VAWTER,  assistant  Postmaster 
of  Bogota,  is  one  of   the  honored    pioneers 
|    of  Jasper  County,  and  for  a  long  period  was 
prominently  connected  with  its  agricultural 

interests.     Born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ind.,  on  the 
22d  of  January, 1825,  he  was  the  seventh  in  a  fam- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


303 


ily  of  eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, born  unto  Beverly  and  Elizabeth  (Crawford) 
Vawter.  The  latter  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent, 
and  the  former  of  German  and  French  extraction. 
The  father  was  born  in  Virginia,  September  28, 
1789,  and  during  his  boyhood  removed  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  remained  for  several  years,  after 
which  he  emigrated  to  Jefferson  County,  Ind.  He 
was  a  millwright  and  wool-carder  by  trade,  and 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  last 
days  were  spent  in  the  Hoosier  State,  where  he  died 
in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his  age.  His  wife,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  died  in  Indiana,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five. 

Under  the  parental  roof  James  Vawter  spent  the 
days  of  his  childhood,  and  his  time  was  passed  in 
working  on  the  farm  or  in  the  mill.  He  was  usu- 
ally busy  during  his  boyhood,  but  he  thereby  de- 
veloped habits  of  industry  and  energy  which  have 
proved  of  incalculable  benefit  to  him  in  his  later 
years.  After  attaining  to  man 's  estate,  Mr.  Vawter 
chose  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  jour- 
ney Mary  C.  Elder,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
December  2,  1826,  and  during  her  early  girlhood 
went  to  Decatur  County,  Ind.  Their  union,  which 
was  celebrated  October  26,  1848,  has  been  blessed 
with  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  but  four  are  now 
deceased.  The  eldest,  Ann  E.,  is  the  wife  of  T.  C. 
Rogers,  a  carpenter  and  farmer  residing  in  Jasper 
County.  Silas  B.  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Kansas; 
Xelima  is  the  wife  of  Abram  Goldsmith,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Clay  County,  111.;  Albert  G.  follows  the 
same  pursuit  in  this  county;  and  Henry  O.  is  also 
a  farmer. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Vawter  manifested  his 
loyalty  to  the  Government  by  entering  the  service 
on  the  18th  of  November,  1861,  as  a  member  of 
Company  I,  Sixty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which 
he  served  until  February  1,  1863,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  ill-health.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  Hankins  Post  No.  675,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Bogota,  and  in  politics  is  a  warm  advocate  of  Re- 
publican principles.  With  the  Christian  Church 
hc>  holds  membership. 

Upon  his  marriage,  Mr.  Vawter  left  home  and 
went  to  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  where  for  two  years 
he  operated  a  rented  farm.  It  was  in  1852  that 


he  came  to  Jasper  County,  and  entered  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  Government  land.  It 
was  a  raw  and  unimproved  tract,  but  he  at  once 
began  its  development  and  soon  the  wild  prairie 
was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  He 
made  many  improvements  upon  the  same,  and  it 
became  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  locality.  De- 
siring to  lay  aside  the  arduous  duties  of  agricul- 
ture, however,  he  sold  his  farm  in  1891,  and  re- 
moved to  Bogota,  where  he  has  since  served  as  As- 
sistant Postmaster.  In  the  long  years  of  his  resi- 
dence here,  Jasper  County  has  found  in  him  a  valu- 
able and  public-spirited  citizen,  his  business  asso- 
ciates have  found  him  an  honorable  man  in  all  his 
dealings,  and  his  acquaintances  in  social  circles 
know  him  to  be  a  genial,  pleasant  gentleman. 


JH  OI-IN  Z.  WINTERROWD,  a  practical  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Wade  Township, 
Jasper  County,  residing  on  section  10,  dates 
^^  his  residence 'in  this  community  since  1860. 
He  is  therefore  numbered  among  its  earliest  set- 
tlers, and  as  such  well  deserves  representation  in 
this  volume.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Indiana  has  furnished  to  Jasper  County.  He 
was  born  in  Shelby  County,  of  the  Hoosier  State, 
July  15,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Winterrowd, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  grandfather,  Peter 
Winterrowd,  was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  family  was  founded  in  an  early  day. 
The  Winterrowds  are  of  German  descent.  The 
grandfather  removed  to  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
about  1802,  locating  there  when  the  county  was 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness.  The  father  of 
our  subject  there  married,  but  his  first  wife  died, 
and  in  Shelby  Count}',  Ind.,  he  wedded  Dorothy 
Cookson,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  removed  to 
Indiana  about  1830,  and  became  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Shelby  County,  where  he  cleared  and  de- 
veloped a  farm  and  reared  his  family.  Selling  his 
property  there  in  1860,  he  came  to  Jasper  County, 
111.,  and  again  found  himself  a  pioneer.  He 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


located  upon  the  farm  where  his  son  now  resides 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  being 
called  to  his  final  rest,  January  3,  1870.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1887,  and  they  were  laid  side  by 
side  in  Steward  Cemetery. 

The  Winterrowd  family  numbered  seven  chil- 
dren, who  grew  to  mature  \'ears,five  sons  and  two 
daughters.  Washington,  the  eldest,  died  in  Texas; 
Nancy  is  still  living;  Jacob  K.  is  now  deceased; 
Seldon  J.  is  a  farmer  of  Livingston  County,  Mo.; 
Sebastian  F.  is  deceased;  Elizabeth  A.  is  the  wife 
of  B.  F.  Moulden,  of  Shelby  County,  Ind. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  the  youngest 
of  this  family,  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents 
when  a  lad  of  twelve  summers,  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  the  old  homestead.  He  received 
good  educational  advantages  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  Mr. 
Winterrowd  was  married  March  5,  1868,  to  Miss 
Barbara  J.  Buckingham,  a  native  of  Monroe  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  W.  Buckingham. 
After  his  marriage  he  remained  with  his  father  for 
about  two  years  and  then  rented  a  farm  in  Efflug- 
ham  Count}'  for  two  years.  During  his  residence 
there  his  wife  died,  her  death  occurring  on  the 
llth  of  December,  1870. 

After  her  death  Mr.  Winterrowd  went  to  Kan- 
sas and  spent  one  summer  in  Montgomery  County, 
where  he  took  up  a  claim.  He  then  returned  to 
his  home  in  Jasper  County  and  took  charge  of  the 
farm  and  business  of  the  homestead,  to  the  posses- 
sion of  which  he  succeeded  by  purchasing  the  in- 
terest of  the  other  heirs.  He  has  greatly  im- 
proved the  place  by  erecting  a  pleasant  and  sub- 
stantial residence,  good  barns  and  outbuildings. 
He' has  also  extended  the  boundaries  of  the  farm 
until  it  now  comprises  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  rich  land,  which  yields  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  labor. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Winterrowd  has 
always  been  a  Republican.  His  first  Presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872.  He  is 
well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  and  takes 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics.  He  has 
served  as  Town  Clerk  for  one  term,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
during  which  time  he  has  done  effective  service  in 


the  interests  of  education.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  County  Fair  Association,  was 
elected  one  of  the  first  directors  and  served  as 
such  for  several  years.  He  was  also  Vice-Presi- 
dent and  Treasurer  of  the  County  Agricultural 
Board. 

Mr.  Winterrowd  was  a  second  time  married, 
November  15,  1871,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Virginia  R.  Bridges,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  in  Jasper  County,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  William  Bridges,  one  of  the  honored  early  set- 
tlers of  this  community,  formerly  of  Virginia.  By 
his  first  marriage  Mr.  Winterrowd  had  one  son, 
Harry  S.,  now  a  successful  teacher  and  farmer  of 
this  country.  Five  children  have  been  born  of 
the  second  marriage:  Walter  E.,  Charlie  C.,  Addie 
E.,  Joe  H.  and  Nellie  E.  The  four  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  attending  school. 

Mr.  Winterrowd  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life 
in  this  community  and  is  well  known  in  Newton 
and  Jasper  Counties.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  agriculturists,  and  is  a  progressive 
and  representative  citizen.  His  life  has  been  well 
and  worthily  spent.  He  has  won  success  in  his 
business  career  and  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fel- 
low-men he  has  gained  the  high  respect  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON  WIIARTON 

resides  on  section  24,  Smallwood  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County.  Among  the  leading 
farmers  of  this  community,  he  well  deserves  mentic 
and  he  also  should  be  represented  among  the 
honored  pioneers,  for  he  came  here  at  an  early  day, 
and  has  since  borne  his  part  in  the  upbuilding  and 
development  of  the  county,  aiding  in  its  progress 
and  advancement.  On  the  4th  of  August,  1822, 
in  Clermont  County,  Ohio,  Mr.  Wharton  was  born 
as  the  seventh  child  and  only  son  in  a  family  of 
nine  children.  His  parents  were  Henrj1  and  Eliz- 
abeth (McWilliams)  Wharton.  His  father  was  born 
in  Delaware  m  1786,  and  was  of  English  descent. 


K)RTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


305 


When  a  boy,  he  went  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents,' 
and  the  family  had  to  live  in  log  forts  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  Indians.  Henry  remained 
upon  the  home  farm  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  married  Miss  McWilliams, 
who  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1782.  He  then 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  a  short  time, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Clermont  County,  Ohio.  He 
became  a  warm  personal  friend  of  William  Henry 
Harrison,  and  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  his  son 
the  Tippecanoe  hero  was  lecturing  in  the  town,  and 
our  subject  was  thus  named  for  him.  Mr.  Wharton 
had  served  in  the  War  of  1812  under  that  illus- 
trious hero.  His  death  occurred  in  Shelby  County, 
Ind.,  in  1860,  and  his  wife  died  in  Jasper  County, 
111.,  November  19,  1864,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  She  was  of  Irish  extraction. 

Mr.  Wharlon  of  this  sketch  has  only  two  sisters 
now  living.  Harriet,  widow  of  John  Burns,  was 
horn  March  30,  1815,  and  makes  her  home  with 
our  subject;  and  -Matilda  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Armstrong,  of  Indiana.  Our  subject  remained  at 
home  in  the  town  of  Millroy,  Clermont  County, 
Ohio,  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  aided  his 
father  in  working  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
then  went  to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  where  an  import- 
ant event  in  his  life  occurred.  He  was  married 
July  27,  1848,  to  Margaret  Miller,  a  native  of 
Harrison  County,  Ky.,  born  April  17,  1826. 

Mrs.  Wharton  was  the  second  in  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  four  daughters,  whose  parents  were  Aaron 
and  Mary  (Ravenscroft)  Miller.  Her  father  was 
born  in  1789,  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to 
Kentucky  and  from  there  to  the  Hoosier  State. 
His  deatli  occurred  in  Rush  County,  Ind.,  April  19, 
1874.  His  wife  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1801, 
and  died  in  Rush  County,  June  13,  1877.  Her 
father  served  for  seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  won  the  rank  of  Captain.  Five  children 
graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wharton,  but 
two  daughters  are  now  deceased.  Minerva  is  the 
wife  of  George  Manning, an  agriculturist  of  Jasper 
County;  Mandy  is  the  wife  of  Andy  Conway,  a 
fanner  of  Howard  County,  Ind.;  and  Allie  is  still 
with  her  parents. 

I 'pon  Mr.  Wharton 's  marriage,  he  rented  land  in 


Indiana,  and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  1853, 
when  he  came  to  Jasper  County  and  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In 
those  earlier  years,  he  experienced  the  difficulties 
and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  for  this  region  was 
then  on  the  frontier  and  he  was  the  first  to  settle 
on  the  prairie  in  this  locality.  In  course  of  time, 
however,  he  was  surrounded  by  neighbors.  His 
wild  land  he  transformed  into  good  farms,  and  he 
now  owns  a  valuable  tract  of  fifty  acres,  located 
about  six  miles  southwest  of  Newton.  Himself  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Clay,  and  was  a 
Whig  until  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party,  with  which  he  has  since  affiliated.  He  has 
served  as  Tax  Collector  and  School  Treasurer,  and 
has  been  an  efficient  School  Director  for  over 
fifteen  years.  A  representative  farmer,  a  faithful 
citizen  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict 
integrity  is  William  Henry  Harrison  Wharton. 


JfOHH  H.  DORMAN  is  a  carpenter  and  farmer, 
residing  on  section  9,  OIney  Township, 
Richland  County.  He  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  and  we  feel  assured  that  this 
sketch  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of 
our  readers.  He  comes  from  the  Badger  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Milwaukee  County,  Wis., 
December  13,  1842.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children,  consisting  of  four  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, whose  parents  were  Julius  and  Margaret  Dor- 
man.  The  father  was  a  native  of  German}'.  In 
that  land  he  spent  his  early  life,  acquired  his  edu- 
cation and  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he 
followed  in  the  land  of  his  birth  until  thirty-live 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States. 
It  was  in  1835  that  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic 
and  located  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  where  he  remained 
working  as  a  carpenter  until  1853.  It  was  then 
that  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  in  that  city 
he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  being  called  to  his 


306 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


final  home  in  1862.  His  wife  passed  away  in  Mil- 
waukee in  1845,  when  our  subject  was  on-ly  three 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  Dorman  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home 
until  a  young  man  of  seventeen  years  and  spent 
his  time  midst  play  and  work.  In  the  public 
schools  he  acquired  his  education,  and  under  his 
father's  instruction  learned  the  carpenter's  trade. 
In  his  eighteenth  year  he  became  a  resident  of 
Olney  and  began  working  in  a  brick-yard,  where 
'he  was  employed  until  April,  1861.  At  the  first 
call  for  volunteers  to  serve  in  the  late  war,  he  re- 
sponded to  the  country's  call  for  troops  and  joined 
the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  G,  Twenty-first  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  in  which  he  served  for  three  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran,  and  followed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  until 
the  preservation  of  the  Union  was  an  assured  fact. 
He  was  captured  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and 
was  confined  in  Libby  Prison  for  three  months, 
a  weary  period  to  the  soldier  boy,  who  was  anx- 
ious to  aid  his  country  on  the  battlefield.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  at  Nashville, 
Chickamauga  and  several  others  of  importance. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Dorman  returned 
to  Olney  and  resumed  work  at  his  trade.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Caroline  Clem,  who  was  born  April  7,  1844,  in 
Indiana,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Joel  and  Magda- 
line  (Kesler)  Clem.  Four  sons  have  been  born  of 
this  union.  Alonzo  and  Harry  are  engaged  in  the 
hardware  business  in  Gays,  111.;  Clarence  is  a 
farmer  in  this  county;  and  Glenn  is  still  at  home. 
The  children  have  all  received  good  educational 
privileges  and  are  now  well  fitted  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life. 

The  home  of  the  Dorman  family  is  a  pleasant 
and  comfortable  residence  on  a  good  farm  of 
twenty  acres,  which  adjoins  the  corporation  limits 
of  Olney.  It  is  well  improved  with  all  modern 
accessories  and  is  a  desirable  place.  In  political 
faith,  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  and  warmly  ad- 
vocates the  principles  of  the  party.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  Eli  Bowyer  Post  No.  92,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Olney.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  are  highly  respected  people  and 


have  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in 
this  community.  Mr.  Dorman  was  a  faithful  sol- 
dier during  the  late  war,  and  with  the  same  fidel- 
ity with  which  he  followed  the  Old  Flag,  he  per- 
forms his  duties  of  citizenship  and  discharges 
every  trust  reposed  to  him. 


LEXANDER  ALTHOUSE,  a  leading  gen- 
eral merchant  of  Parkerburgh,  and  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  Rich- 
land  County,  claims  Pennsylvania  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Jenner's  Cross 
Roads,  Somerset  County,  January  16,  1837,  and 
is  a  son  of  Frederick  and  Catherine  (Lichtenber- 
ger)  Althouse,  both  of  whom  were  of  German  de- 
scent. Until  eighteen  years  of  age  Alexander 
remained  upon  the  farm,  his  time  being  passed  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  but,  desiring 
follow  some  other  pursuit  than  that  of  agricul- 
ture, he  began  learning  the  carpenter's  trade. 
Later  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  in  order 
to  further  perfect  his  own  education,  he  attended 
at  intervals  the  Somerset  Normal  School  and  the 
Myersdale  Normal  School. 

Mr.  Althouse  had  nearl}'  completed  the  coin's 
at  Somerset  when    he    entered    the  service  of  his 
country  during  the  late  war.     Prompted  by  patri- 
otic impulses,  on  the  4th   of  September,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fifty-fourth  Pennsylva 
nia  Infantry,  in  which  he  served   until  honorably 
discharged  after  a  term  of  three  years,  Septeml 
4,  1864.     He  took  part    in  Sheridan's  expedition 
in   the  Shenandoah  Valley,  participating    in   tli 
battles  of  Piedmont,  Fredericksburg,  Newmarket 
Lynchburg,  \Vinchester  and  many  minor  engage 
ments.     lie  received  several  slight  wounds,  and  at 
Newmarket  his  clothes  were  pierced  by  seven  bill 
lets,  which  luckily  did  not  enter  his  person.     Pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  he  was  also  offered 
a  Lieutenancy,  but  declined  the  honor. 

On  leaving  the  South,  Mr.  Althouse  returned 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


307 


his  home  in  the  Keystone  State.  Wishing  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  West,  he  came  to  Parkersburgh 
in  January,  1865,  and  began  working  at  the  car- 
penter's trade.  The  next  year,  however,  he  em- 
barked in  the  merchandising  business,  which  he  has 
since  continued.  He  carries  a  full  stock  of  general 
merchandise  and  has  the  largest  store  in  Parkers- 
burgh.  He  began  in  a  small  way,  but  from  the  be- 
ginning his  trade  has  constantly  increased,  until 
it  has  now  assumed  extensive  proportions. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1867,  Mr.  Althouse  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Parker.  They 
had  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  This  worthy 
couple  are  highly  respected  citizens  of  Parkers- 
burgh,  prominent  in  social  circles,  and  have  the 
warm  regard  of  all.  Socially,  Mr.  Althouse  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
lias  been  honored  with  several  local  offices,  the 
duties  of  which  he  has  promptly  and  faithfully 
discharged,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  and  a- 
half  years,  he  lias  been  Postmaster  of  Parkersburgh 
since  1868.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  is  a 
warm  advocate.  His  successful  business  career  is 
due  to  the  excellent  stock  which  he  carries,  his 
earnest  desire  to  please  his  customers,  his  courte- 
ous treatment,  and  his  fair  and  honest  dealing, 
and  lie  iias  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all. 


?ULLER  NIGH,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  loan 
N^to  and  collection  agent  of  Newton,  III.,  is  a 
/l\  pioneer  settler  of  Jasper  County,  who  dates 
his  residence  here  from  February,  1855.  He  was 
born  in  London ville,  then  Richland  County,  but 
now  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  July  6,  1831,  and  is 
a  son  of  Lawrence  and  Nancy  (McCarl)  Nigh.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother 
was  born  on  the  Emerald  Isle.  Both  are  now  de- 
ceased. In  1844,  they  removed  with  their  family 
to  Lawrence  County,  1 11.,  where  they  effected  a  set- 
tlement and  spent  the  remainder  of  their  days. 


Our  subject  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when 
he  came  to  this  State.  He  had  attended  school  in 
his  old  home  but  was  too  young  to  have  acquired 
much  education  prior  to  his  removal  Westward. 
In  his  new  home  at  that  early  day  he  found  very 
limited  advantages  for  instruction,  yet  he  attended 
the  district  schools  for  a  short  time.  His  father 
was  a  saddler  and  harness-maker  and  under  his 
direction  the  son  learned  that  trade.  He  did  not 
like  it,  however,  and  in  consequence  never  followed 
it  as  a  vocation.  His  early  manhood  was  largely 
spent  on  a  farm.  When  the  California  "gold  fever" 
of  1849  broke  out,  he  was  desirous  of  joining  the 
first  delegation  of  emigrants  for  the  gold  regions 
of  the  West,  but  was  unable  to  get  away  until  the 
following  year.  In  the  spring  of  1850,  he  set  out 
with  a  small  party  across  the  plains.  The  party 
consisted  of  five  men  and  one  woman,  the  wife  of 
one  of  the  compan}'.  They  were  equipped  with 
twenty-five  fine  horses  and  a  number  of  wagons, 
fully  supplied  witli  a  good  lot  of  provisions,  tools 
and  arms,  and  in  fact  well  fitted  out  for  the  trip. 
They  crossed  the  Missouri  River  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo., 
continued  their  journey  by  way  of  Salt  Lake,  and 
after  one  hundred  and  seventeen  days  of  travel 
from  St.  Joseph,  they  reached  the  Sacramento 
River.  They  traveled  mostly  by  themselves,  avoid- 
ing the  large  caravans  for  the  sake  of  securing  bet- 
ter pasture  for  their  stock.  They  were  never  mo- 
lested by  the  Indians  save  on  one  occasion,  when 
Mr.  Nigh  was  herding  the  horses  at  a  point  some 
four  miles  distant  from  the  roads  and  from  where 
his  companions  were  passing  the  night.  He  was 
alone  and  unarmed  except  with  a  heavy  stock 
whip.  While  reclining  on  an  elevated  spot, 
watching  his  sleeping  horses,  his  elbow  resting 
on  the  ground,  his  head  supported  by  one  hand, 
he  was  surprised  by  the  whiz  of  an  Indian 
arrow,  which  passed  his  cheek,  and  by  the  stam- 
peding of  the  horses.  In  the  attempt  to  stop  the 
horses,  he  missed  seeing  the  Indian,  who  made  good 
his  escape.  By  the  aid  of  a  companion  the  horses 
were  all  recovered  the  following  day,  several  miles 
distant.  The  attack  was  made  about  midnight  and 
probably  by  a  single  Indian,  asone  was  shota  short 
time  later  by  another  party  of  emigrants,  while  he 
was  trying  to  stampede  their  stock. 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  reaching  the  gold  fields,  Mr.  Nigh  on  account 
of  impaired  health  was  unable  to  engage  in  placer- 
mining  for  he  could  not  work  in  the  water,  so  en- 
gaged in  trading  and  contracting  to  supply  wood 
for  the  steamlx>ats  on  the  Sacramento  River.  He 
hired  the  wood  cut  and  hauled  to  the  Yuba  River, 
where,  after  loading  it  onto  small  tlatboats,  the 
boats  were  dropped  down  the  Yuba  into  the 
Sacramento,  where  they  were  picked  up  by  pass- 
ing steamers,  towed  to  port  and  the  wood  trans- 
ferred to  the  steamers  for  which  it  was  intended. 
Mr.  Nigh  secured  a  claim  to  sonic  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  the  valley  of 
the  Sacramento,  half  of  which  was  timber  and  half 
meadow.  It  has  since  become  quite  valuable  and 
a  flourishing  village  is  located  on  one  of  the  tracts 
that  is  named  Nighville.  The  town  was  given  that 
name  from  the  fact  of  Mr.  Nigh  having  been  the 
earliest  settler  there. 

After  spending  four  years  in  California,  oursub- 
ject  found  his  health  seriously  impaired  and  was  ad- 
vised by  his  physicians  to  take  a  sea  voyage.  It  oc- 
curred to  him  that  he  could  accomplish  this  by  mak- 
ing a  trip  home,  and  he  decided  to  visit  his  friends, 
after  which  he  expected  to  return  to  California  and 
resume  business.  He  took  passage  from  San  Fran- 
cisco to  Panama,  crossed  the  Isthmus  on  muleback 
and  sailed  for  New  York,  in  due  time  reaching  his 
home,  where  he  took  his  friends  by  surprise.  His 
parents,  being  advanced  in  years,  were  very  much 
opposed  to  his  returning  to  California,  fearing  that 
they  would  never  see  him  again  if  he  did.  He 
yielded  to  their  persuasions  and  remained  in  Illi- 
nois. He  had  left  his  business  in  California  in  the 
hands  of  a  supposed  friend,  but  through  bad  man- 
agement or  dishonesty ,_  this  man  caused  Mr.  Nigh 
the  loss  of  what  would,  if  cared  for,  have  proved 
a  very  valuable  property.  However,  he  was  quite 
successful  in  his  business  while  there  and  brought 
back  with  him  a  fair  return  for  his  venture. 

In  February,  1855,  soon  after  his  return,  Mr. 
Nigh  came  to  Newton,  where  he  was  employed  as  a 
merchant's  clerk  for  several  years.  In  1866,  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  in  Newton  and  continued 
in  that  line  until  1878,  when  he  sold  out  and  em- 
barked in  farming,  still  maintaining  his  home  in 
tliis  place.  Mr.  Nigh  was  married  in  Newton,  Oc- 


tober 27,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Harris,  an  early  settler  of  Jasper  County. 
She  was  born  in  this  city  and  was  a  consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Her  death  occur- 
red on  the  19th  of  May,  1881.  Nine  children 
were  born  of  that  marriage:  Elizabeth,  now  the 
wife  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Franke;  William  and  Rosa,  both 
deceased;  Belle,  Joseph,  Charles,  Edward,  Frank 
and  Fred. 

In  politics.  Mr.  Nigh  is  a  Democrat.  His  first 
official  duties  were  in  the  capacity  of  Constable. 
In  1862  he  was  elected  Sheriff  and  served  a  term 
of  two  years.  He  was  chosen  Supervisor,  holding 
the  office  eight  or  nine  terms.  He  also  served  as  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  and  of  the  Newton 
City  Council,  and  for  eight  years  has  been  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  He  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  a 
member  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  216,  A.F.  &  A.  M.; 
Newton  Chapter  No.  109,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Gorin 
Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T. 

Mr.  Nigh  is  the  owner  of  three  farms  in  Jasper 
County,  aggregating  four  hundred  acres,  together 
with  a  good  coal  mine  and  rock  quarry  which  are 
successfully  operated.  His  rock  quarry  is  the  best 
in  Jasper  County.  Our  subject  was  actively  iden- 
tified with  the  building  of  the  first  railroad  in  this 
county,  then  the  Grayville  &  Mattoon  Railroad, 
now  a  part  of  the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evansville. 
The  enterprise  had  been  undertaken  by  others  in 
an  early  day,  but  after  issuing  bonds  and  con  tract- 
ing  for  building  the  road  a  deadlock  occurred,  and 
the  people  waited  in  vain  for  nearly  twenty  years 
for  the  promised  road.  In  1874,  Mr.  Nigh  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  two  County  Commissioners 
appointed  to  investigate  and  secure  the  completion 
of  the  road  if  possible.  A  meeting  was  called  at 
Olney,  the  old  bonds  were  negotiated  for,  new  con- 
tracts were  let  and  the  road  was  built  from  Park- 
ersburg  to  Mattoon  and  afterward  extended  to 
Toledo.  On  its  completion  to  Toledo  the  company 
failed  and  Mr.  Nigh  was  appointed  receiver.  He 
succeeded  in  settling  up  the  affairs  of  the  company, 
and  as  contractor  built  the  road  from  Toledo  to 
Mattoon,  a  distance  of  nineteen  miles,  and  held  his 
position  as  director  until  the  present  company,  the 
Peoria,  Decatur  <fe  Evansville,  purchased  and  se- 
cured possession  of  the  road. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


309 


While  serving  as  Sheriff  of  Jasper  County,  Mr. 
Nigh  proved  a  very  ellicient  and  successful  officer 
and  displayed  superior  ability  as  a  detective, 
especially  in  hunting  down  and  capturing  horse- 
thieves,  until  his  name  became  a  terror  to  that  class 
of  criminals  throughout  southern  Illinois.  Mr. 
Nigh  has  now  been  a  resident  of  Newton  for  nearly 
forty  years  and  enjoys  an  extended  acquaintance 
throughout  Jasper  and  adjoining  counties,  where 
he  has  been  known  for  all  these  years  as  an  upright 
and  influential  business  man,  whose  integrity  is 
beyond  question  and  who  has  always  been  true  to 
his  friends,  fair  to  all,  and  ever  to  be  relied  upon. 


WILLIAM  B.  TOLLIVER,  who  carries  on 
agricultural  pursuits  on  section  32,  Den- 
ver Township,  has  lived  in  Richland 
County  since  1861,  and  in  the  third  of  a  century 
which  has  since  passed  has  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  upbuilding  and  development  of 
the  community  in  which  he  makes  his  home.  He 
was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Ind.,  February  12, 
1839.  Tradition  says  that  two  brothers  from  Eng- 
land crossed  the  Atlantic,  settled  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  were  the  founders  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica. Both  the  grandfathers  of  our  subject  were 
natives  of  that  State.  Jesse  Tol liver  was  a  large 
land  and  slave-holder  there. 

Allen  Tolliver,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  in  1803,  and  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  plantation.  In  1824,  he  emigrated  to  Indi- 
ana, where  he  made  a  claim  and  developed  a  good 
farm  in  the  midst  of  the  forest.  He  owned  large 
tracts  of  land  in  Illinois  and  the  Hoosier  State,  but 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Indiana,  after  hav- 
ing gained  a  fortune  to  leave  to  his  family.  He 
married  Susan  Finger,  a  lady  of  German  descent, 
who  died  in  1847.  His  death  occurred  February 
21,  1891.  He  was  a  man  who  had  the  respect  of 
all  who  knew  him  and  lived  an  honorable,  upright 
life.  AVith  one  exception  the  twelve  children  are 
all  living.  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Davis,  of 


southwestern  Missouri;  John  is  an  extensive  land- 
owner of  Lawrence  County,  Ind.;  Jesse  is  living 
in  Noble,  111.;  Joseph  served  in  the  Confederate 
army,  and  is  now  a  farmer  of  Arlington,  Tex.; 
William  is  the  next  younger;  Jacob  is  a  successful 
farmer  of  Richland  County;  George  is  living  on  a 
farm  near  Noble;  Riley,  one  of  the  boys  in  blue, 
makes  his  home  in  Washington;  Kate,  Mrs.  Field, 
lives  in  Oklahoma.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife,  Mr.  Tolliver  married  Mahala  Laswull,  who  is 
now  living  in  Denver  Township  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years.  She  became  the  mother  of  two 
children:  Henry,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  and 
Susan,  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  in 
a  log  cabin  and  upon  a  farm  covered  with  rocks 
and  stumps.  Many  hours  of  his  youth  were  spent 
in  clearing  these  away.  On  attaining  his  major- 
ity he  left  home  to  begin  life  for  himself.  In  No- 
vember, 1859,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and,  purchasing 
a  team,  operated  a  rented  farm  in  Jasper  County 
for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1861  he  came  to 
Richland  County  and  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  well-improved  and  highly  cultivated  land,  and 
is  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  March,  1863,  Mr.  Tolliver  married  Rebecca 
J.,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Rachel  Hawkins,  who 
located  in  Jasper  County  in  1852.  Mrs.  Tolliver 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ind.  To  her  hus- 
band she  has  proved  a  faithful  helpmate  and  nota 
little  of  his  success  in  life  is  due  to  her  aid.  She 
has  become  the  mother  of  six  children,  but  only 
two  are  living;  Allen  D.  died  when  nine,  and 
Avery  J.  died  when  six  years  of  age;  Cora  E.,  who 
was  a  successful  teacher  of  the  county,  is  now  the 
wife  of  Albert  Slack,  a  farmer  and  carpenter  of 
Jasper  County;  Charles  G.  aids  in  the  operation 
of  the  home  farm. 

For  many  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tolliver  have  been 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  in  the  work  of 
which  they  take  an  active  interest.  He  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
for  two  years,  has  been  School  Trusteo  and  High- 
way Commissioner.  His  first  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  since  that  time 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  has  usually  supported  the  Republican  party. 
His  duties  of  citizenship  are  ever  faithfully  per- 
formed and  he  is  alike  true  to  every  public  and 
private  trust.  His  true  worth  and  ability  have 
made  him  a  valued  member  of  society  and  have 
won  him  high  respect. 


C.  MILLS,  one  of  the  extensive 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Jasper  County, 
living  in  Grandville  Township,  is  a  prom- 
inent and  influential  citizen,  and  well  deserves  rep- 
resentation in  this  volume.  His  life  record  is  as 
follows:  He  was  born  in  Pitt  County,  N.  C.,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Churchill  and  Hol- 
land (I)ickson)  Mills,  who  were  natives  of  Ihe 
same  State.  Their  family  numbered  ten  children: 
Patsy,  Thomas,  Mac  S.,  William  C.,  Wyatt  J.,  John 
II.,  Henry,  Asa,  Leonard  and  Owen.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  farmer  throughout  his  entire 
life.  He  remained  in  North  Carolina  until  1840, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Crawford  County,  111.,  lo- 
cating in  Palestine.  He  made  the  trip  with  one 
horse  and  a  cart.  His  wife  had  to  walk  part  of 
the  way  and  carry  one  of  the  children  in  her  arms. 
Mr.  Mills  pre-empted  some  land  near  Palestine, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  built  a  log  cabin, 
16x18  feet,  and  began  the  development  of  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  resided  for  five  years.  He  then 
entered  and  pre-empted  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Crawford  County,  within 
six  miles  of  Robinson,  and  there  made  his  home 
until  1870.  In  that  year  he  took  up  his  residence 
in  Diola,  111.,  upon  a  farm.  Six  years  later  he 
went  to  Leon,  Tex.,  where  he  purchased  a  five  hun- 
dred acre  tract  of  land,  and  thereon  lived  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  He  died  December  19, 
1892.  The  day  following  would  have  been  his 
eighty-fourth  birthday.  In  politics  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, and  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
highly  respected.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
in  September,  1865,  after  which  Mr.  Mills  was 
again  married.  His  second  wife  is  still  living. 


They    had  five  children:    Joseph.    Sarah,    Albert, 
Allen  and  Rhoda  M. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  was  about  four  years  old  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  was  reared  in 
Crawford  County,  and  in  the  subscription  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  acquired  his  education.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself. 
His  father  gave  him  twenty  acres  of  land,  and  with 
this  as  a  nucleus  he  has  built  up  his  present  for- 
tune. He  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  during 
the  summer  months  and  in  the  winter  season 
chopped  wood  and  split  rails.  He  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 

In  April,  1861,  Mr.  Mills  gallantly  responded  to 
the  call  for  troops,  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  I,  Twenty-first  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  mustered  in  as  a  private  at  Mattoon,  and  took 
part  in  his  first  active  engagem  ent  at  Frederick- 
town,  Mo.  This  was  followed  by  the  battles  of 
Perryville,  Ky.,  Murfreesboro  and  Chickamauga, 
where  he  was  taken  prisoner  September  20,  1863. 
He  was  first  put  in  a  stockade  at  Atlanta,  but  af- 
ter a  short  time  was  taken  to  Belle  Isle,  where  he 
lay  for  nine  days,  after  which  he  was  sent  to  Rich- 
mond, where  he  was  held  as  a  prisoner  for  two 
months.  He  was  then  taken  to  Danville,  Va.,  and 
incarcerated  in  a  tobacco  house  during  the  winter. 
Later  he  was  sent  to  Andersonville,  where  he  was 
held  as  a  captive  from  April  until  the  following 
March.  He  was  released  in  April.  1865,  after  a 
prison  life  of  over  eighteen  months.  He  then  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  from  the  service. 
His  army  career  was  one  of  hardship,  for  those  who 
languished  in  Southern  prisons  often  had  more 
severe  suffering  to  endure  than  those  who  met 
wounds  on  the  field  of  battle. 

On  being  mustered  out,  Mr.  Mills  returned  to 
his  home  in  Crawford  County.  On  the  17th  of 
January,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Rhoda  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  Randall  and  Caroline  (Bargher)  Haddock. 
Unto  them  were  born  thirteen  children,  as  follows: 
Herma  II.,  Mitchell  E.,  Sarah  A.  C.,  Letitia  M., 
Victor  O.,  Virgil  (deceased),  William  C.,  Noali 
<).,  Rhoda  A.,  Luke  F.,  Grace  E.,  Mary  O.  and 
Goldie  L.  F. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


311 


Mr.  Mills  has  followed  farming  throughout  his 
entire  life.  He  devoted  his  energies  to  the  culti- 
vation of  his  land  in  Crawford  County  until 
18G8,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  near  Diana,  Cum- 
berland County  and  there  made  his  home  until 
April,  1876.  That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Jasper  County.  He  first  purchased  three  hundred 
acres  of  partially  improved  land  on  section  7, 
Granville  Township,  and  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion until  1881,  when  he  removed  to  the  farm 
which  is  still  his  home.  He  now  owns  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  good  land,  and  is  extensively  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  success  that  has  attended  his  efforts. 
Through  his  enterprise,  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment, he  has  gained  a  handsome  competence,  which 
makes  him  one  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  Jasper 
County. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Mills  is  a  stanch  ad- 
vocate of  Republican  principles,  but  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  official  honors,  preferring  to 
devote  his  time  and  attention  to  business  interests, 
in  which  he  has  met  with  signal  success.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  a 
most  estimable  lady.  The  family  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  the  community.  Mr.  Mills  is 
a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  man- 
ifests a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 


eHARLES  EVERSMAN,  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  C.  Eversman  &  Son,  dealers 
in  drugs  and  general  merchandise  at  Teu- 
topolis,  began  business  in  this  place  in  1876,  suc- 
ceeding his  father,  w*to  had  previously  carried  on 
a  store.  A  life  record  of  this  well-known  mer- 
chant is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Iburg,  Han- 
over, Germany,  on  the  30lh  of  August,  1843,  and 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  America  in  1845, 
when  twenty-one  months  old.  The  family  flrst 
located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  they  spent 


about  seven  years,  and  thence  came  to  Teutopolis, 
111.,  reaching  their  destination  on  the  2d  of  May, 
1852.  Charles  acquired  his  education  in  the  Cath- 
olic University  of  Notre  Dame,  in  South  Bend, 
Ind.,  and  when  his  school  life  was  over  he  re- 
turned to  his  home  and  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  thus  employed  until  1866,  when  his  father 
opened  a  drug  store  in  Teutopolis  and  Charles  en- 
tered upon  the  duties  of  salesman  in  that  establish- 
ment. Until  1876  he  continued  to  act  as  clerk, 
and  then  bought  out  the  business. 

On  the  22d  of  November,  1871,  Mr.  Eversman 
of  this  sketch  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Catherine  Busse,  a  daughter  of  Gerhard  and  Mar- 
garet (Uphouse)  Busse.  Her  parents  are  both  now 
deceased.  She  was  born  in  Teutopolis,  December 
16,  1850.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  born  four  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  namely:  Frank  F.  J.,  born  October  9, 
1872;  Leo  George  C.,  born  April  17,  1874;  Doro- 
thea Henrietta,  born  March  27, 1877;  and  Catherine 
Elizabeth,  born  July  7,  1880.  The  eldest  son  at- 
tended the  parochial  schools  until  sixteen  years 
of  age  and  was  graduated  from  St.  Joseph's  Col- 
lege. He  then  assisted  his  father  in  the  store  and 
on  the  1st  of  February,  1882,  was  admitted  to 
partnership  in  the  business.  Leo  was  educated  in 
the  same  school  as  his  brother  and  is  now  working 
in  a  flouring-mill.  The  daughters  are  yet  attend- 
ing school.  The  children  have  all  received  good 
advantages  in  this  direction  and  are  therefore 
well  fitted  for  the  practical  and  responsible  duties 
of  life.  The  family  are  all  members  of  the  Catho- 
lic Church. 

Mr.  Eversman  carried  on  the  drug  business  until 
September,  1892,  when  he  added  to  it  a  stock  of 
dry-goods  and  groceries.  He  is  doing  a  successful 
business  and  enjoys  a  liberal  trade.  In  connection 
with  this  property  he  also  owns  an  interest  in  a 
good  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  pleasantly  situ- 
ated two  miles  south  of  Teutopolis.  Socially, 
Mr.  Eversman  is  connected  with  the  Catholic 
Knights  of  America,  being  one  of  the  Charter 
members  of  his  lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart 
advocate  of  Democratic  principles.  He  takes  a 
very  prominent  part  in  political  affairs  and  does 
all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  interests  of  his 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


party,  speaking  in  every  campaign.  His  worth 
and  ability  have  been  recognized  by  his  fellow- 
citizens,  who  have  called  upon  him  to  serve  in  a 
number  of  public  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Village  Council  for 
four  years,  was  Supervisor  for  three  years,  Town 
Clerk  for  nine  years,  Justice  of  the  Peace  for 
twelve  years,  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  three 
years,  Assistant  Postmaster  for  twelve  years,  and  for 
six  years  Notary  Public.  Hisprompt  and  faithful 
discharge  of  duty  led  to  his  frequent  elections 
and  his  long  continuance  in  office  when  once  in- 
stalled therein. 


^  AHTIN  F.  COWMAN,  who  carries  on  gen- 
1\\  eral  farming  on  section  4,  AVade  Township, 
111  Jasper  County,  is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier 
State.  He  was  born  in  Putnam  County, 
Ind.,  May  25,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Margaret  (Westbrook)  Cowman.  The  Cowman 
family  is  of  German  descent  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Cowman,  who  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Highland  County,  Ohio.  He  located  in  the  wild- 
erness and  cleared  and  developed  a  farm,  on  which 
he  reared  his  family.  His  son  Samuel  was  born  in 
Ohio,  and  after  attaining  to  mature  years  married 
Margaret  Westbrook,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  a  daughter  of  Martin  Westbrook,  who  was  also 
born  in  the  Keystone  State  and  became  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Highland  Count}',  Ohio.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  Putnam  County,  Ind., 
where  the}'  located  when  it  was  almost  a  wilderness. 
They  afterward  removed  to  Stark  County,  where 
Mr.  Cowman  engaged  in  farming  for  a  few  years, 
and  then  came  to  Illinois.  After  a  residence  in 
Cumberland  County,  he  returned  to  Stark  County, 
Ind.,  and  in  1860  he  removed  to  Edgar  County,  111., 
and  from  there  came  to  Jasper  County  in  1865. 
A  few  years  later  he  purchased  a  tract  of  prairie 
land  and  began  the  development  of  a  farm,  upon 
which  our  subject  now  resides.  It  was  then  in  its 


primitive  condition,  but  he  improved  and  culti- 
vated it  until  it  became  one  of  the  finest  farms  of 
this  locality.  Mr.  Cowman  continued  to  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  labors  of  life  were 
ended.  He  passed  away  December  31,  1877,  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  died  on 
the  10th  of  the  same  month,  and  they  were  laid 
side  by  side  in  Brick  Cemetery,  where  a  marble  slab 
marks  their  last  resting-place. 

Of  their  family,  two  sons  and  two  daughters 
grew  to  mature  years.  The  eldest,  Harriet  E.,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Nathan  Thomas,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  Emily  Jane  is  the 
wife  of  Ira  Scott,  of  Jewell  County,  Kan.  Martin 
is  the  next  younger.  George  M.  is  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Olney,  Richland  County. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  nine  years  of  his  life 
in  the  State  of  his  nativity,  and  then  came  with 
his  parents  to  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood. 
He  received  good  school  privileges,  being  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  the  Newton  Select 
School.  He  remained  at  home  until  after  the  death 
of  his  parents,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  home 
farm  and  bought  out  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs, 
so  that  he  is  now  the  owner  of  the  old  homestead, 
a  valuable  and  desirable  place,  which  is  considered 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  township. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1878,  Mr.  Cowman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  M.  Harris,  who 
was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  September  28, 
1849.  Her  father,  G.  D.  Harris  was  of  English  de- 
scent, born  at  Newport,  Campbell  County,  Ky., 
May  4,  1818.  His  father,  Thomas  Harris,  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1 8 1 2.  He  married  Nancy 
Ann  Wollen,  by  whom  he  reared  a  large  family. 
December  6,  1847,  G.  D.  Harris  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Melinda  Baird,  a  native  of  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  born  September  23,  1816,  a  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Margaret  W.  (Davis)  Baird,  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  Mr.  Harris  was  a  carpenter 
and  builder  by  trade.  His  Carriage  took  place  in 
Ada T.S  County,  Ohio,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Kentucky  with  his  young  bride,  where  they  resided 
until  about  1859,  when  they  lemoved  toOhio,set- 
tling  in  Adams  County.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children,  only  two  of  whom  grew  to  maturity, 
Mrs.  Cowman,  and  Mary  R.,  who  is  the  wife  of  J. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


313 


W.  Morgan,  of  Henderson,  Ky.  Mr.  Harris  died 
at  liis  home  in  Ohio,  May  25,  1877,  and  Mrs.  Har- 
ris' death  occurred  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  in 
Jasper  County,  111.,  July  20,  1887.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cowman  have  four  children:  Edith  F.,  Florence  E., 
Ada  M.  and  Nellie.  Mrs.  Cowman  was  for  several 
years  a  successful  teacher,  having  taught  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio  before  coming  to  Illinois,  and  she 
taugiit  two  terms  in  Jasper  County  after  her  ar- 
rival here  in  1877.  The  Cowman  household  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality  and  the  parents  are  well-known 
people  of  this  community,  highly  esteemed  for 
their  sterling  worth. 

Mr.  Cowman  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in 
Jasper  County  and  has  witnessed  much  of  its 
growth  and  development.  He  is  a  faithful  citizen 
and  takes  a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its  up- 
building. In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
warmly  advocating  the  principles  of  that  party,  and 
has  supported  each  of  its  Presidential  nominees 
since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  James  A.  Gar- 
field. 


Isle, 


ICIIAEL  GALLAGHER,  a  prominent  far- 
mer and  representative  citzen  of  Decker 
Township,  Richland  County,  whose  home 
is  on  section  11,  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  West  Meath 
County,  Ireland,  in  1823.  His  father,  James  Gal- 
lagher, spent  his  entire  life  in  that  county,  and  in 
pursuit  of  fortune  followed  the  occupation  of 
fanning.  The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Riley.  and  was  also  a 
native  of  the  same  locality.  They  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  three  sons  came  to  Amer- 
ica. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  Michael  Galla- 
gher crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  mother,  sister  Marcella  and  brother  Patrick. 
They  sailed  from  Liverpool,  and  after  a  pleasant 
voyage  of  eight  weeks  landed  at  New  Orleans, 


whence  they  made  their  way  by  boat  to  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  joining  John  Gallagher,  brother  of 
our  subject,  who  had  preceded  them  to  the  New 
World.  Michael  worked  on  the  railroad  for  a 
year,  and  then  with  the  money  which  he  had  saved 
purchased  in  1854  forty  acres  of  land,  the  nucleus 
of  his  present  farm.  The  mother  lived  with  her 
children  until  her  death,  and  was  buried  on  the 
homestead  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Gallagher  had  very  limited  educational 
privileges,  and  his  advantages  in  other  directions 
were  almost  as  meagre.  He  early  learned  hard 
work,  however,  and  thereby  developed  a  self-re- 
liance and  force  of  character  that  have  proven  of 
incalculable  benefit  to  him  in  his  later  years.  Af- 
ter locating  upon  his  farm  lie  practiced  an  eco- 
nomical and  thrifty  course  of  living,  and  the  in- 
dustry and  enterprise  which  have  characterized 
his  entire  career  marked  his  efforts.  In  that  way 
his  financial  resources  were  increased,  and  from 
time  to  time  he  added  to  his  landed  possessions 
until  his  farm  now  comprises  two  hundred  and 
forty-three  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  yields  to 
him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestows  upon  it.  He  has  also  given  land 
to  his  children. 

In  1858  Mr.  Gallagher  married  Libby  Hughes, 
who  was  born  in  Decker  Township,  as  was  her  fa- 
ther, John  Hughes.  Her  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mandy  Morris,  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. Eight  children  have  been  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife:  Joseph,  Jesse  and  George,  who 
are  farmers  of  Richland  County;  Michael  at  home; 
Thomas  at  home;  Mandy,  wife  of  John  Williams, 
of  Wayne  County;  Lydia,  wife  of  William  O. 
Donnell,  of  this  county;  and  Libby  A.,  who  is  still 
under  the  parental  roof.  The  children  were  all 
born  and  reared  on  the  home  farm  and  have  re- 
ceived good  educational  advantages,  which  have 
thus  fitted  them  for  the  practical  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gallagher  are  active  and  faithful 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
in  politics,  he  has  been  a  stanch  Democrat  since 
casting  his  first  vote  for  James  Buchanan.  Thirty  - 
nine  years  have  passed  since  Mr.  Gallagher  came 
to  Richland  County,  and  his  long  residence  here 
has  made  him  one  of  its  respected  and  valued  cit- 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


izens.  He  has  aided  greatly  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  the  county  and  with  its  history 
his  life  is  inseparably  connected.  Mr.  Gallagher 
need  never  regret  his  emigration  to  America,  for 
he  lias  here  found  a  good  home  and  many  warm 
friends. 


WILLIAM  DONALDSON,  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Mason,  claims  Ohio  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  the  county  seat  of  Brown  County, 
August  9,  1821,  and  is  of  Irish,  Scotch'  and  Ger- 
man descent.  Andrew  Donaldson,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  of  Irish  descent  but  married  a 
Scotch  lady,  and  they  had  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren. He  probably  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety  years, 
while  his  wife's  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  Their  son,  Andrew  Donaldson,  was 
the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  George- 
town, Ohio,  and  in  early  life  became  a  surveyor. 
He  afterward  followed  farming,  and  later  engaged 
in  coopering.  He  spent  seven  years  as  a  surveyor 
in  Indiana  and  Ohio  in  early  days,  when  the  Ind- 
ians still  lived  in  those  localities.  In  Brown 
County  of  the  latter  State  he  married  Catherine 
Baxter,  a  native  of  Charleston,  W.  Va.,  and  a 
daughter  of  Allen  Baxter,  a  farmer  who  resided 
about  three  miles  east  of  Charleston,  in  that  State. 
He  was  a  prominent  Methodist  and  took  quite  an 
active  part  in  church  work.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
lived  to  an  advanced  age. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donaldson 
they  located  in  Ohio,  but  subsequently  returned  to 
Virginia,  where  they  spent  about  four  years.  They 
then  became  residents  of  Boone  County,  Ky.,  where 
they  lived  until  1853.  In  that  year  they  removed 
to  Perry  County,  III.,  and  Mr.  Donaldson  pur- 
chased a  farm  near  Pigeonville,  where  he  and  his 
wife  and  a  little  niece  died  within  three  days  of 
each  other  of  typhus  fever.  He  was  sixty-three 
years  of  age  and  his  wife  was  sixty  at  the  time 


of  their  deaths.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  Mr.  Donaldson  had  served  as  a  re- 
cruiting officer  in  the  War  of  1812.  This  worthy 
couple  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters,  of  whom  three  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  yet  living:  William;  Allen;  Jane, 
wife  of  Emory  Hobbs;  Joseph;  Caroline,  wife  of 
Andrew  Hobbs;  and  Mrs.  Minerva  Williams,  of 
Gallatin  County,  Ky. 

William  Donaldson,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  was  reared  in  Petersburg!!,  Boone  County, 
Ky.,  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  began  learning 
the  cooper's  trade.  After  attaining  to  man's  estate 
he  was  married,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1846,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Chase) 
Wingate,  natives  of  Maryland.  Nine  children 
were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  but  three 
are  now  deceased,  namely:  Anna  Vista,  the  eld- 
est; William  A.,  the  fifth  child,  and  Henry  W., 
the  seventh  child.  With  one  exception  the  other 
children  are  all  married.  Josephine  became  the 
wife  of  David  Thistle  wood,  who  died  in  the  fall 
of  1886,  and  she  resides  in  Cairo,  111.  She  had  four 
children,  but  Cora  is  the  only  one  now  living.  Cath- 
erine is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Condon,  of  Perry,  Iowa,, 
and  they  have  a  son,  Charles.  Luc  married  John 
C.  Lee,  of  Mason,  and  they  have  two  children, 
David  G.  and  Hall.  Charles  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  David  Drury,  and  resides  upon  a  farm 
in  Mason  Township  with  his  wife  and  their  son 
Percy.  Cora  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Wright,  who  fol- 
lows farming  in  Mason  Township  just  south  of  the 
village.  Thomas  is  the  youngest  member  of  this 
family. 

On  the.  14th  of  April,  1860,  Mr.  Donaldson  came 
to  Illinois  from  Carrollton,  Ky.,and  located  in  the 
village  of  Mason.  In  1858  he  purchased  what  was 
known  as  the  Hamilton  Farm,  comprising  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  a  mile  from  the 
village.  After  a  year's  residence  in  Mason  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm,  and  its  boundaries  he  subse- 
quently extended  by  the  purchase  of  another  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  timberland,  making 
in  all  four  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  has  since 
sold  eighty  acres  of  the  timber  tract.  The  farm 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


315 


at  the  time  of  his  removal  hither  had  all  been 
fenced,  but  more  than  half  of  it  was  unplowed,  and 
deer  used  to  run  over  the  land  close  to  his  house. 
He  improved  the  place  with  numerous  buildings, 
including  a  substantial  and  pleasant  eight-room 
residence.  He  also  built  good  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings, and  divided  his  land  into  fields  of  conven- 
ient size,  which  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  was  recognized  as  a  successful 
and  enterprising  agriculturist. 

Mr.  Donaldson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  Steward.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  Mason  Lodge  No.  217,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He 
was  also  for  many  years  a  prominent  Odd  Fellow, 
and  helped  to  organize  three  different  lodges,  of 
which  he  was  a  charter  member.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  The  cause  of 
temperance  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  the  church 
an  earnest  advocate,  and  all  worthy  interests  cal- 
culated to  prove  of  public  benefit  a  stanch  and 
hearty  supporter. 


BEL  RIDGELY,  a  well-known  farmer  and 
stock-raiser,  residing  in  Richland  Count}', 
claims  Illinois  as  the  State  of  his  nativity. 
He  was  born  in  Wabash  County,  February 
16, 1820,  and  is  the  eldest  of  fifteen  children  whose 
parents  were  William  and  Hannah  H.  (Simmons) 
Ridgely.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  probably  was  of  Scotch  descent.  At  a  very 
early  age  he  was  left  an  orphan.  He  became  a 
ship  carpenter  at  Baltimore,  but  in  March,  1817, 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Mt.  Carmel,  a 
pioneer  of  that  locality.  His  wife  was  born  in  the 
Empire  State,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Stephen 
Simmons,  who  when  a  small  boy  emigrated  from 
his  native  England  to  America.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen,  he  entered  the  Colonial  army,  and  for 
meritorious  conduct  in  the  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
William  Ridgely  assisted  .Stephen  Simmons  to 


build  the  first  vessel  ever  constructed  in  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio.  The  parents  of  our  subject  came  to 
Illinois  on  a  keel-boat,  landing  at  old  Palmyra,  a 
place  not  now  in  existence.  The  members  of  the 
Ridgely  family  were  William  II.,  Henry  D.,  Lloyd 
G.,  Orrick,  Abel,  Absalom,  Mrs.  Eliza  L.  Green- 
hood,  Mrs.  Orenda  Harrison,  Mrs.  Henrietta  Parker, 
Charles  and  Nicholas  (twins),  Medad,  Samuel, 
Maria,  and  one  who  died  at  birth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  but  limited 
educational  privileges.  At  the  age  of  twenty -six 
he  left  home  and  began  working  at  the  carpenter's 
trade.  In  January,  1852,  he  married  Lizzie  L.  Clod- 
felter,  of  Edwards  County,  111.,  and  they  became 
parents  of  four  children:  George  A.,  William  S., 
Alice  L.  (wife  of  William  Martin),  and  Edwin  A. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  about  1862,  and 
later  Mr.  Ridgely  wedded  Phmbe  Ades,  by  whom 
he  had  a  daughter,  Lizzie  L.  The  second  wife 
died  in  1873.  On  the  18th  of  October,  1882,  he 
married  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Bland,  of  Edwards  County. 
By  her  first  husband,  L.  II.  Bland,  she  had  five 
children:  Mrs.  Eva  Wyatt,  Lloyd,  Bessie,  Wade 
and  Mary. 

In  1864,  Mr.  Ridgely  arrived  in  this  county. 
Locating  in  Olney,  he  built  a  hardware  store, 
which  he  carried  on  for  a  few  j'ears.  About  1865, 
he  bought  his  present  farm,  and  it  has  since  been 
his  home.  At  one  time  he  owned  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land,  but  much  of  this  lie  has  given  to  his 
children.  For  many  years  he  raised  the  largest 
and  best  crops  of  wheat  grown  by  any  farmer  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  but  as  he  has  disposed  of 
much  of  his  land,  his  crops  are  consequently 
smaller,  but  none  the  less  excellent  in  quality. 
His  farm  is  well  equipped  with  good  buildings 
and  other  improvements,  and  comprises  some  of 
the  best  land  in  the  county.  In  December,  1892, 
his  fine  home  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  with  char- 
acteristic energy  he  has  begun  to  rebuild.  For 
several  years  after  coining  to  this  county,  Mr. 
Ridgely  also  dealt  in  farming  implements,  and 
before  his  arrival  he  traveled  for  several  years 
selling  fanning-mills. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ridgely  is  a  Republican,  but 
has  never  been  an  oflice-sceker.  He  and  most  of 
his  family,  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 


316 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  friend,  and 
he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding. 
We  see  in  our  subject  a  self-made  man,  who  be- 
gan life  empty-handed,  yet  has  worked  his  wa}' 
upward,  until  he  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous citizens  of  the  county.  Before  he  was  ten 
years  old,  he  earned  a  half-shilling  by  chopping 
wood  for  his  grandfather,  and  to  this  little  nucleus 
lie  kept  adding  until  he  had  $200  when  he  became 
of  age.  His  indefatigable  industry  and  good 
management  have  been- the  factors  in  his  success. 
He  has  never  undertaken  any  business  enterprise 
in  which  he  did  not  succeed.  Although  he  has 
carried  on  business  amounting  to  many  thou- 
sand dollars  annually,  he  has  never  owed  any  man 
a  dollar  which  he  was  not  prepared  to  pay  on  de- 
mand, a  fact  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  His 
whole  career  has  been  marked  by  the  strictest 
integrity  and  honor,  and  he  has  won  universal 
confidence  and  high  regard. 


[[  OHN  J.  FAUSNACHT,  a  popular  and  lead- 
ing farmer  of  Noble  Township,  Richland 
County,  living  on  section  12,  traces  his 
ancestry  to  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes. 
His  great-grandfather,  Jacob  Fausnacht,  emigrated 
to  the  New  World  from  his  native  Germany,  and 
aided  the  Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence. At  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  he  was  taken 
prisoner  and  was  nearly  starved  by  the  British. 
After  the  war  he  lived  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
followed  farming.  The  grandfather,  John  Faus- 
nacht. was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  and  became 
a  pioneer  settler  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where,  in 
the  midst  of  the  forest,  he  hewed  out  a  farm, 
which  is  still  in  the  family.  He  married  a  Miss 
II inkle,  and  both  died  in  the  Buckeye  State. 

Israel  Fausnacht,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  about  1818,  and  when  eight 
years  old  went  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  being 


reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  the  frontier.  He 
spent  his  life  on  the  old  homestead  and  died  in 
1874.  lie  was  a  successful  business  man,  prominent 
in  local  politics,  and  supporting  the  Democratic 
party,  although  he  was  never  an  office-seeker.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Ebie,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
unto  them  were  born  five  children:  John;  Peter, 
a  farmer  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  Christina, 
George  and  Mrs.  Susan  Stichler  also  live.  The 
mother  died  when  our  subject  was  twelve  years 
old,  and  Mr.  Fausnacht  then  married  Catherine 
Ebie,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  by  whom  he  had  six 
children:  lira.  Lydia  Wastler,  Uriah,  Washing- 
ton, Daniel,  Lizzie  and  Amanda. 

On  the  24th  of  February,  1828,  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  our  subject's  birth  occurred.  On  the  home- 
stead farm  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  when 
quite  young  he  began  work  in  the  fields.  He 
could  attend  school  but  irregularly,  yet  acquired 
a  good  education,  and  is  now  a  well-informed 
man.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood  by  working  as  a  fireman  on  the 
PittsburghjFort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  returned  to  the  farm  and 
offered  his  services  to  the  Government  for  the  late 
war,  but  was  rejected  on  account  of  his  breast- 
bone being  broken. 

On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Fausnacht  began 
farming  for  himself  on  rented  land.  As  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose 
Miss  Mary  Cordier,  and  their  wedding  was  cele- 
brated March  25,  1858.  She  is  a  native  of  Stark 
County,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Frances 
(France)  Cordier,  the  former  born  in  Germany, 
and  the  latter  in  France.  Our  subject  rented  his 
grandfather's  farm  until  the  spring  of  1866,  when 
he  started  for  Missouri,  but,  stopping  in  Richland 
County  to  visit  relatives,  he  bought  land  in  Olney 
Township,  and  has  since  lived  in  this  locality.  In 
1874  he  purchased  his  present  farm,  on  which  was 
a  log  stable  and  a  log  cabin,  16x16  feet,  while 
about  twenty  acres  had  been  cleared.  He  at  once 
began  to  plow  and  plant  the  land,  and  now  has 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county,  comprising 
one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  of  valuable 
land.  For  twenty-one  years  he  has  engaged  iii 
threshing. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


319 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fausnacht  were  born  nine 
children.  Elijah,  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
March  5,  1859,  is  section  foreman  on  the  Ohio  & 
Mississippi  Railroad  at  Flora,  and  married  Sarah 
Lewis;  Pluvbe,  born  September  1,  1861,  is  the  wife 
of  Lawrence  Fishel,  a  fanner  of  Olney  Township; 
Clara,  born  January  18,  1864,  is  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Newman,  a  fanner  and  ranchman  of  Garfield  Coun- 
ty, Colo.;  Ann  Amelia  and  Ann  Augusta  are  both 
deceased;  Maggie,  born  in  1870,  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Newman,  of  Garfield  County,  Colo.;  Josie, 
born  in  1875,  Lewis,  born  March  23,  1877,  and 
Israel,  born  January  3,  1881,  are  at  home.  The 
children  have  been  provided  with  good  educational 
advantages  and  the  family  is  one  of  which  the 
parents  may  well  be  proud. 

Mr.  Fausnacht  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Garfield, 
the  two  having  both  been  reared  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood. When  young  men  they  were-  well  ac- 
quainted. Our  subject  has  been  a  great  reader 
along  the  line  of  political  questions,  history  and 
church  work.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Dunkard  Church  and  are  zealous  workers  in 
its  interest.  For  eight  consecutive  years  he  has 
served  as  School  Director.  He  has  lived  an  up- 
right, honorable  life,  at  peace  with  all  men 
and  has  never  had  a  law  suit.  He  has  man}' 
friends  and  no  enemies,  and  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  is  held  is  well  merited. 


V.  P.  R.  DUCEY,  resident  priest  of  the 
Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Ettingham, 
and  the  founder  of  that  church,  is  a  well- 
^_  }  known  citizen  of  Ettingham  County.  A 
native  of  the  old  Bay  State,  he  was  born  in  Low- 
ell, Mass.,  on  the  5th  of  May,  1863,  and  is  the 
eldest  son  of  Patrick  and  Mary  (Ronan)  Ducey. 

Our  subject  began  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  took  a  preparatory  course  in  the  High 
School  of  his  native  city.  Later,  he  was  graduated 

15 


from  St.  Bonaventura  Seminary,  where  he  was  or- 
dained as  a  Priest  of  the  Catholic  Church  on  the 
18th  of  June,  1889.  His  first  mission  was  in 
Springfield,  III.,  where  he  went  at  once  after  his 
ordination,  there  serving  as  assistant  to  Vicar- 
General  T.  Hickey.  He  spent  three  years  in  that 
city,  during  which  time  he  served  as  President  of 
the  Catholic  Union,  as  the  spiritual  director  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  as  Director  of  the 
Sacred  Heart  Society.  By  his  genial,  kindly  man- 
ner, and  his  ability  and  earnestness  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duty,  Father  Ducey  endeared  himself 
to  his  associates,  to  the  local  clergy  and  to  the 
people  of  his  church.  His  Springfield  friends  fur- 
ther showed  their  appreciation  for  the  rising  young 
clergyman  by  presenting  him  with  a  very  liberal 
contribution  to  the  erection  of  the  church  in 
Ettingham,  over  which  he  was  to  preside. 

It  was  in  1892  that  Rev.  Father  Ducey  here  lo- 
cated. By  means  of  the  liberal  gift  made  him  ere 
he  left  Springfield,  a  much  more  elaborate  finish 
and  ornamentation  were  made  to  the  new  church  in 
this  place  than  otherwise  would  have  been  possible. 
Father  Ducey,  while  comparatively  a  young  man, 
has  developed  superior  ability  in  his  holy  calling, 
and  by  his  earnest  efforts  in  behalf  of  his  church, 
and  his  genial  cordial  manner,  has  already  won  a 
strong  hold  on  the  hearts  of  his  new  congregation. 


i)HE  CHURCH  OF  THE  SACRED  HEART, 

of  Effingham,  the  so-called  English-speaking 
church  of  that  city,  was  organized  as  a  so- 
ciety on  the  1st  of  January,  1892,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  its  present  rector,  the  Rev.  P.  R.  Duceyr 
The  corner-stone  of  the  elegant  church  edifice 
just  completed  by  this  society  was  laid  June  23. 
1892,  and  on  the  26th  of  October  following  the 
church  was  duly  dedicated  by  the  Rt.-Rev.  James 
Ryan,  Bishop  of  Alton,  assisted  by  many  of 
the  clergy  of  the  diocese.  The  cost  of  the  entire 
church  property  of  this  society,  including  the 


320 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


priest's  home  and  the  school,  was  about  $15,000. 
The  church  structure  is  a  handsome  brick  building, 
lighted  by  colored  or  cathedral  windows,  and  is 
appropriately  furnished  and  decorated,  making  a 
cheerful  and  attractive  place  of  worship.  It  is 
heated  by  steam,  has  a  seating  capacity  of  five 
hundred,  and  the  congregation  comprises  fifty-five 
families.  The  school  is  taught  by  Miss  Marj'  Healy 
and  numbers  fifty-two  scholars.  A.  J.  Wortnan 
and  Thomas  Leddy  constitute  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, and  the  consulters  are  Frank  Bannin,  Thomas 
Smith,  Samuel  Campbell,  John  C.  Eversman,  Den- 
nis O'Connell,  George  Hogan  and  Henry  Fisher. 
The  Board  of  Directors  is  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing-named gentlemen:  Emmctt  Bannin,  Boniface 
Smith,  Joseph  Worman,  Henry  Habing,  Reuben 
Speck  and  John  Shea. 

The  church  societies  embrace  the  Altar  Society, 
of  which  Mrs.  Joseph  Partride  is  President,  and 
Mrs.  Reuben  Speck  Secretary;  the  Holy  Name 
Society,  of  which  Albert  Jakle  is  President,  Dan- 
iel O'Connell  Vice-President,  and  Daniel  Gyan 
Secretary;  and  the  Sodality  Children  of  Mary,  of 
which  Miss  Mary  Liddy  is  President,  and  Mabel 
Campbell  Vice-President. 

The  Rev.  P.  R.  Ducey,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  work,  enjoys  the  honor  of  being  the 
founder  of  this  model  church,  to  the  establishing 
and  building  of  which  he  brought  a  substantial 
donation  from  his  warm  personal  friends  among 
the  influential  members  of  the  Springfield  Church, 
to  which  he  had  previously  been  attached. 


PRANKLIN    PERRY  WOODEN,    who   car- 
ries on  general  farming  on  section  23,  Bon- 
pas  Township,  Richland  Count}',  and  who 
is    one   of    the  honored  veterans  of   the  late  war. 
was  born  on  the  16th  of  January,  1829,  near  Bloom- 
ington,  Ind.     His  father,  Solomon  Wooden,  was  a 
native  of  Baltimore,  Md.     After  attaining  toman's 
estate,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen 
Hill,  who  was    born    in    Kentucky.     Her    parents, 


however,  came  from  Old  Salem,  N.  C.  In  a  very 
early  day  Solomon  Wooden  and  his  wife  took  up 
their  residence  in  Monroe  County,  Ind.,  and  upon 
the  farm  where  they  first  located  they  made  their 
home  until  their  deaths,  which  occurred  at  very 
advanced  ages. 

Franklin  Wooden  lived  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  until  about  twenty  years  of  age,  and  at  in- 
tervals attended  the  subscription  schools.  In  1849 
he  left  the  parental  roof  to  seek  a  home  and  for- 
tune in  Richland  County,  111.  lie  located  first  on 
section  4,  Bonpas  Township,  a  farm  which  had 
been  partly  improved,  and  continued  its  cultiva- 
tion until  1860,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  his 
present  farm  on  section  23  of  the  same  township. 
Only  about  six  acres  of  the  land  had  been  cleared 
at  that  time,  and  a  log  cabin  was  the  onlv  im- 
provement upon  the  place,  but  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  the  work  of  development.  He 
labored  early  and  late,  and  in  course  of  time  the 
land  which  he  plowed  and  planted  yielded  to 
him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestowed  upon  it.  He  now  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
of  which  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  It 
is  one  of  the  test  farms  in  the  county,  being  im- 
proved with  excellent  buildings,  good  fences  and 
all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1850,  Mr.  Wooden  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Martha  J.,  daughter  of 
David  Gaddy,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Law- 
rence County,  111.  Six  children  graced  their  un- 
ion, namely:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Richards;  Francis  M.; 
Winnie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mrs.  Susan  Joseph; 
David,  a  physician  of  Grayville,  111.;  and  George, 
who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Wooden  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the  Un- 
ion during  the  late  war  by  enlisting  in  October, 
1861,  as  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  E, 
Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry.  He  was  mostly  engaged 
in  scouting  duty,  and  on  the  5th  of  January,  1865, 
he  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  took  part 
in  Gen.  Grayson's  expedition  from  La  Grange, 
Tenn.,  to  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  during  which  they 
were  in  the  saddle  most  of  the  time  for  seventeen 
days  and  nights.  This  raid  was  made  by  about 
seven  hundred  men,  detachments  from  the  Sixth 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


321 


and  Seventh  Regiments  of  Illinois  Cavalry.  Many 
interesting  incidents  occurred  during  that  expedi- 
tion. From  Baton  Rouge  the  troops  went  to  Port 
Hudson,  where  Mr.  Wooden  was  taken  prisoner, 
June  21,  1863.  For  eighteen  days  he  was  in  Libby 
Prison,  and  then  was  exchanged  and  rejoined  his 
regiment  in  Tennessee.  For  fifty-two  days  he  was 
in  front  of  Hood's  army  about  Nashville.  Though 
he  saw  much  arduous  service  he  escaped  without 
wounds.  He  is  now  a  member  of  New  Calhoun 
Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Mr. 
Wooden  was  a  faithful  soldier,  ever  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  and  has  been  alike  true  as  a  citizen 
in  times  of  peace.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Franklin  Pierce,  and  has  since  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Democracy. 


J"  /  OHN  HAWKINS,  a  prominent  young  farm- 
I  er  residing  on  section  5,  Decker  Township, 
Richland  County,  has  spent  nearly  his  entire 
^^  life  in  this  locality,  and  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known.  His  birth,  however,  occurred  in  Gib- 
son County,  Ind.,  in  1851,  and  in  the  home  of  Sam- 
uel and  Margaret  (Montgomery)  Hawkins,  his 
parents,  his  boyhood  days  were  passed.  In  the 
summer  months  he  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
and  for  about  three  months  during  the  winter 
season  he  attended  the  subscription  and  public 
schools,  in  which  way  he  gained  a  fair  knowledge 
of  the  English  brandies.  When  a  youth  of  four- 
teen summers  the  family  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm,  which  lias  since  been  the  home 
of  our  subject.  The  place  was  then  wild  and  un- 
improved, but  it  is  now  one  of  the  richest  tracts  of 
land  in  the  community.  At  the  age  of  twenty  our 
subject  assumed  the  management  of  the  old  home- 
stead. 

In  September,  1872,  in  Bon  pas  Township,  Mr. 
Hawkins  married  Miss  Lillie  Dole,  who  was  born  in 
New  York,  but  when  a  child  went  to  Hamilton, 
Ind.,  with  her  parents,  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
(Acker)  Dole.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Eng- 


land, but  her  mother  was  born  in  Virginia.  After 
four  years'  residence  in  the  Hoosier  State,  they  re- 
moved with  their  family  to  Frankfort,  Ky.  Since 
his  marriage  Mr.  Hawkins  has  resided  upon  the 
home  farm,  where  he  now  owns  one  hundred  acres 
of  valuable  land.  Of  this,  ten  acres  is  an  orchard, 
and  it  is  but  one  of  the  many  excellent  improve- 
ments upon  the  place.  „ 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawkins  has  been 
blessed  witli  three  sons,  Wilbur,  Harry  and  Fred- 
die, and  the  family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken, 
the  children  being  still  under  the  parental  roof. 
The  parents  hold  membership  with  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  They  give  of  their  time  and 
means  to  church  work  and  the  cause  of  Christian- 
ity finds  in  them  able  advocates.  Mr.  Hawkins  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows of  Noble,  and  his  wife  is  connected  with  the 
Rebecca  Lodge.  For  six  years  he  has  served  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  his  repeated  re- 
elections  are  excellent  evidence  of  the  faithfulness 
and  fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  his  official 
duties.  In  politics,  he  manifests  considerable  in- 
terest. His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  and  he  has  since  affiliated  with 
the  Democracy.  He  has  served  as  Central  Com- 
mitteeman  of  this  township.  For  twenty-eight 
years  his  home  has  been  in  Richland  County,  and 
he  is  well  and  favorably  known  as  one  of  her  early 
settlers. 


ACOB  WEAVER  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  17,  Fox 
Township,  Jasper  County,  and  has  resided 
upon  his  present  farm  for  the  past  twenty 
years.  He  was  born  on  the  9th  of  February,  1839, 
in  Ohio  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  son  of  Abraham  and 
Catherine  (Gibson)  Weaver.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  comes  of  an  old  German  fam- 
ily. Throughout  his  entire  life  he  was  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits.  With  his  wife  and  children 
he  came  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  took  up  his  resi- 


322 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dence  in  Jasper  County.  He  is  still  living  in 
Smallwood  Township.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver 
were  born  nine  children,  as  follows:  George,  James, 
Jacob,  Sarah,  John,  Margaret,  William,  Abraham 
and  Catherine. 

Jacob  Weaver  was  a  lad  of  about  thirteen  years 
when  the  family  came  to  Illinois.  He  bore  all  the 
experiences  of  frontier  life,  and  was  early  inured 
to  the  hard  labors  of  the  farm.  He  was  a  young 
man  when  the  late  war  broke  out.  He  had  watched 
with  interest  the  progress  of  events  prior  to  the 
struggle,  and  in  June,  1861,  he  offered  his  services 
to  his  country,  enlisting  in  Company  K,  Twenty- 
first  Illinois  Infantry.  After  being  mustered  in 
at  Springfield,  he  at  once  went  to  the  South  and 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Fredericktown,  Crab 
Orchard,  Stone  River  and  Corinth.  He  was  wound- 
ed December  30,  1862,  in  the  battle  of  Stone  Riv- 
er, receiving  a  buckshot  wound  in  the  knee  and 
also  in  the  left  arm.  He  did  not  recover  from  these 
injuries  for  some  time,  and  on  account  of  the  dis- 
ability thus  occasioned  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  May,  1863. 

On  account  of  his  wounds  Mr.  Weaver  was  forced 
to  remain  at  home  two  years  after  his  return  from 
the  South,  but  as  soon  as  possible  he  began  business 
for  himself,  and  was  employed  in  a  flouring-mill 
in  Mason,  111.,  until  1869,  when  with  the  capital 
he  had  secured  by  his  industry  and  enterprise  he 
purchased  a  sawmill.  This  he  operated  until  1873, 
when  he  sold  out  and  began  farming. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  married  April  15, 1869,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jennie,  daughter  of  Chris- 
topher and  Catherine  (Wolf)  Rexroad.  The  lady 
was  born  in  this  State  December  22,  1844.  Ten 
children  were  born  of  their  union,  namely:  Nova 
D.,  who  died  July  28,  1888;  Cortland,  who 
died  September  2,  1873;  Curtis  S.,  born  December 
6,  1 873;  Katie  B.,  born  September  22,  1875;  Claude, 
born  December  12,  1877;  Gertrude,  who  died  Au- 
gust 22,  1880;  Maude  D.,  born  April  3,  1882;  Eu- 
gene, born  August  25,  1884;  and  Leo  and  Leona, 
twins,  born  July  30,  1888. 

Mr.  Weaver  has  led  a  quiet  and  unassuming  life, 
devoting  himself  to  his  business  interests,  yet  the 
community  finds  in  him  a  valued  citizen  and  one 
highly  respected  for  his  sterling  worth  and  many 


excellencies  of  character.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  he  be- 
longs to  the  Society  of  Friends.  In  politics  he  is 
a  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 


ON.  EDWARD  S.  WILSON,  late  Treasurer 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  this  commonwealth,  is  a 
lawyer  by  profession.  To  many  will  this 
record  of  his  life  prove  interesting,  and  with 
pleasure  we  record  it  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
county.  He  was  born  in  Palestine,  Crawford 
County,  111.,  on  the  25th  of  June,  1839.  His  par- 
ents, Isaac  N.  and  Hannah  H.  (Decker)  Wilson, 
were  natives  of  Virginia.  The  father  was  born  in 
Hardy  County  in  1804,  and  the  mother  in  Rock- 
bridge.  Both  are  now  deceased.  Emigrating  West- 
ward, they  became  pioneers  of  Illinois,  for  they 
settled  in  Crawford  County  in  1814.  The  father 
died  in  April,  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 
years,  and  the  mother  passed  away  in  1876.  Of 
their  family,  there  are  now  living  five  sons  and  a 
daughter.  James  A.  resides  in  Missouri;  Isaac  D. 
in  Kansas  City,  Kan.;  Luke  F.  makes  his  home  in 
Kansas  City,  Mo.,  in  the  winter  and  in  Archer 
County,  Tex.,  in  the  summer;  Medford  B.  resides 
in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  being  President  of  the  Cap- 
ital National  Bank  of  that  city;  Sarah  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Allen  Tindolph,  of  Vincennes,  Ind.,  where 
her  husband  is  Postmaster;  and  Edward  S.,  out- 
subject,  completes  the  family.  He  is  its  only  rep- 
resentative in  Illinois. 

Mr.  Wilson  whose  name  heads  this  record  was 
educated  in  Palestine,  and  began  the  study  of  law 
under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge  J.  C.  Allen,  witli 
whom  he  studied  two  years,  finishing  with  Me 
Clernard  &  Broadwell,  a  well-known  law  firm  of 
Springfield,  111.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
1861,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  legal 
profession  in  Robinson,  the  county  seat  of  Craw- 
ford County,  where  he  continued  three  years.  The 
year  1864  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Richland  County. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  February  of  that  year  lie  located  in  Olney, 
where  he  lias  since  made  his  home.  In  1865,  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Judge  R.  S.  Canby, 
of  Olney,  under  the  firm  name  of  Canby  &  Wilson, 
which  connection  was  continued  until  1867,  when 
Judge  Canby  was  elected  to  the  Circuit  Bench. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  T.  W.  Hutch- 
inson,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wilson  &  Hutcbin- 
son,  which  connection  continued  until  1890,  when 
Mr.  Wilson  was  elected  State  Treasurer  of  Illinois, 
which  office  lie  filled  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  an  ar- 
dent supporter  of  the  principles  of  that  party.  He 
was  the  lirst  one  of  his  party  elected  to  the  office 
of  State  Treasurer  for  a  period  of  thirty  years.  He 
proved  a  competent  and  faithful  Stale  officer,  dis- 
charging Ins  duties  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents.  For  twenty  years  he  has  served  as 
Master  in  Chancery  for  Richland  County,  and  has 
also  filled  the  ottice  of  Alderman  in  the  Olney  City 
Council. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1867,  Mr.  Wilson  was  mar- 
ried in  Olnoy  to  Miss  Ann  Rowland,  a  daughter 
of  Townsend  H.  Rowland,  and  a  native  of  Richland 
County,  where  her  parents  settled  at  a  very  early 
day.  Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson,  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Rowland  Lee, 
the  eldest,  has  been  employed  in  banking  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business;  June,  the 
only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  William  A. 
Colledge,  a  Congregational  clergyman  of  Cadillac, 
Mich.;  Glenn  is  employed  in  the  Capital  National 
Bank,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  and  Isaac  N.  is  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Western  Military  Academy,  of  Upper 
Alton,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Agriculture,  horticulture  and 
stock-raising  have  occupied  Mr.  Wilson's  attention 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  has  about  a  thousand 
acres  of  land  in  Hichland  County.  Sixty  acres  of 
this  is  an  orchard.  A  portion  of  the  land  lies 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  Olney,  where  he  has 
a  fine  residence  and  extensive  and  beautiful 
grounds.  For  the  past  ten  years,  Mr.  Wilson  has 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  the  breeding  of 
Clydesdale  horses  and  Shetland  ponies,  and  has 
daring  that  time  produced  some  very  fine  speci- 


mens of  each  variety,  that  have  taken  prizes  at  the 
State  fairs.  His  interest  in  horses  led  him  Lo  take 
a  warm  interest  in  securing  the  State  Fair  for  Ol- 
ney, and  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  accomplish- 
ing that  end  and  fitting  up  suitable  grounds.  The 
State  Fair  was  held  here  two  years,  in  1887-88. 
The  fair  grounds  are  owned  by  the  citj'  and  con- 
stitute a  fine  wooded  park,  of  which  the  citizens  of 
Olney  are  justly  proud. 

Mr.  Wilson  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
all  important  public  enterprises  of  Oluey  City  and 
Richland  County  for  the  past  thirty  years,  and  has 
always  been  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  same.  He 
is  a  man  of  great  energy  and  enterprise  and  his 
progressive  spirit  has  won  him  success  in  the  var- 
ious works  he  has  undertaken.  His  public  and 
private  career  has  gained  for  him  many  acquaint- 
ances and  friends,  who  for  his  worth  esteem  him 
highly.  It  is  but  just  to  say  that  he  is  one  of  the 
representative,  prominent  men  of  this  State. 


ETER  BILLINGS  is  a  farmer  on  section  32, 
|i  Decker  Township,  Richland  County.  He 
claims  Tennessee  as  the  State  of  his  nativ- 
ity, his  birth  having  occurred  in  White 
County,  March  18,  1825.  His  father,  William 
Billings,  was  born  in  the  same  county  in  1801,  and 
in  1823  wedded  Mar}'  Davis,  of  the  same  State. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  London,  England,  and 
her  mother  of  Wales.  Mr.  Billings  died  in  Bates- 
County,  Mo.,  in  1870.  He  was  a  prominent  farmer 
and  owned  large  tracts  of  land.  In  1828,  he  had 
removed  to  Indiana,  and  in  1852  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Noble  Township,  Richland  County,  from 
where  he  went  to  Missouri.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  died  in  Indiana  in  1841.  The  children  of 
that  marriage  are  Rebecca  and  John,  both  deceased; 
Peter,  of  this  sketch;  Aaron,  a  farmer  of  Clny 
County;  Jesse,  of  Davis  County,  Ind.;  James,  of 
Arkansas;  Benton,  who  served  in  the  army;  Joseph, 
who  was  also  a  soldier  and  is  now  living  in  Girard, 
Kan.;  and  Nancy,  deceased.  For  his  second  wife, 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


William  Billings  married  Sarah  Schaufner,  who 
died  in  Missouri.  He  then  wedded  Mary  Hall.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Whig  and  afterwards  a  Republican. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  four  years 
old  when  he  went  with  his  parents  to  Indiana, 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life.  He  aided  in  the  arduous 
labors  of  developing  a  new  farm  and  took  his 
place  as  one  of  the  regular  hands  in  the  field  from 
the  age  of  twelve.  He  left  home  in  1842,  and  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Mary  Murray,  daughter  of 
Timothy  Murray.  He  then  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  two  years,  after  which  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  school  land  in  Lawrence  County,  111.  A 
log  cabin  was  erected  and  he  began  the  development 
of  a  farm.  He  came  by  team  to  Richland  County 
in  1852,  and  purchasing  land  in  Noble  Township, 
commenced  making  the  farm  which  has  since  been 
his  home.  Very  successful  has  he  been  in  his  bus- 
iness affairs  and  at  one  time  he  owned  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  bnt  lie  has  since  deeded  it  all  to 
his  sons  with  the  exception  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  comprised  in  the  old  homestead. 
Upon  it  is  a  fine  residence  and  all  the  improvements 
found  upon  a  model  farm.  In  connection  with 
the  cultivation  of  his  fields,  he  raises  fruit  and  stock 
and  has  a  large  orchard  of  one  hundred  and  five 
acres. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Billings  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  April,  and  was 
buried  at  Freedom  Church.  He  has  since  married 
Rachel  Spiegel,  of  Crittenden,  Ky.  The  children 
born  of  the  first  union  are  Timothy,  who  was 
born  in  Indiana,  September  6,  1843,  married  Jane 
Bateman.  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  Saylor 
Springs,  Clay  County;  John,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; Catherine,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Lewis,  Postmaster  of  Noble;  James,  who  married 
Laura  Spiegel,  and  is  a  merchant  of  Noble.  One 
daughter  has  been  born  of  the  second  union,  Ethel, 
born  December  9,  1892. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Billings  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  of  Noble.  He  has  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  three  years  and  has  been  School  Director 
and  Trustee.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 


for  Zachary  Taylor,  and  was  a  Whig  until  the 
dissolution  of  the  party,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  a  faithful  adherent  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  gives  his  support  to  social,  educational  and 
moral  interests,  and  never  withholds  his  aid  from 
any  worthy  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  pub- 
lic benefit.  His  wealth  has  been  achieved  as  the 
result  of  hard  labor,  good  management  and  well- 
directed  efforts,  and  is  but  the  just  reward  of  a  well- 
spent  and  honorable  life.  He  is  held  in  the  high- 
est esteem  throughout  the  community,  and  his  ex- 
ample is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


^  ON.  ISAAC  M.  SHUP,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  late  war  and  an  ex-member  of  the 
&  Illinois  Legislature,  is  a  native  of  the  Buck- 
eye  State.  He  was  born  in  Highland  County, 
September  6,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Harvey)  Shup.  His  parents  were  born  in 
Greene  County,  Pa.  The  father's  birth  occurred  in 
1787,  and  he  died  in  Ohio  September  11,  1839,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-two  years.  In  1849  Mrs.  Shuj 
removed  to  Hancock  County,  Ind.,  will)  her  chil- 
dren, and  resided  in  that  State  until  1853,  when 
she  brought  her  family  to  Jasper  County,  111., 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  her  days.  She 
died  September  12,  1858. 

Isaac  M.  Shup  accompanied  his  mother  on  her 
removal  to  this  county,  and  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads  spent  his  boyhood  days,  at  work 
upon  the  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
school,  where  he  acquired  his  education.  On  reach- 
ing manhood,  he  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war.  Prompt 
by  patriotic  impulses,  and  anxious  to  strike  a  blov 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  he  was  among 
the  first  to  enlist.  On  the  llth  of  May,  1861,  he 
became  a  member  of  Company  K,  of  the  famou 
Twenty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  com- 
manded by  Col.  U.  S.  Grant,  when  that  famous 
warrior  first  entered  the  service  in  which  he  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


32o 


destined  to  win  such  great  glory  and  distinction 
and  to  render  his  country  such  valuable  service. 

Mr.  Shup  was  promoted  to  be  First  Sergeant,  and 
subsequently  was  unanimously  elected  by  his  com- 
pany to  a  First  Lieutenantcy,  but  being  disabled 
and  forced  to  lie  in  the  hospital  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  was  never  commissioned.  Sergt.  Shup 
took  part  in  the  following  battles  and  in  numerous 
minor  engagements:  Fredericktown  (Mo.),  the 
siege  of  Corinth,  and  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left 
leg.  He  was  previously  in  the  hard-fought  battle 
of  Perryville  (Ky.),  and  later  at  Chickamauga. 
His  regiment  was  in  the  Fourth  Army  Corps,  in 
the  siege  and  capture  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  involving 
numerous  battles,  and  also  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Lovejoy,  Jonesboro,  Spring  Hill,  and  the  battle 
of  Franklin  (Tenn.).  At  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1864,  he  was  seri- 
ously wounded  by  a  gunshot  in  the  left  arm  above 
the  elbow,  which  tore  away  the  muscles  and  flesh 
from  the  arm,  permanently  disabling  it.  He  was 
carried  from  the  field  and  was  in  the  hospital  under 
treatment  until  discharged,  August  31,  1865, 
nearly  four  months  after  the  war  ended.  Although 
discharged  from  the  service,  his  wound  was  not 
fully  healed  for  two  years  after  it  was  received. 
His  discharge  was  received  at  Camp  Butler,  in 
Springfield,  111. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1867,  Mr.  Shup  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Newton,  111.,  with  Miss 
Annie,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Barrett) 
Brooks.  She  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ind., 
and  came  to  Jasper  County  in  childhood.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shup  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  but 
only  three  are  now  living.  John  E.,  the  eldest, 
died  in  infancy;  Clarence  L.,  at  the  age  of  nine 
years;  and  Harry  E.,  aged  eight  years.  The  younger 
and  surviving  children  are  Gertrude  L.,  May  and 
Carl  B. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Shup  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held 
various  public  offices.  In  July,  1867,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Johnson  as  Postmaster  of 
Newton,  and  served  until  January  1,  1870.  The 
following  spring  lie  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  filled  that  office  until  December,  1884, 
when  he  resigned  to  take  his  seat  as  a  member  of 


the  Thirty-fourth  General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  to 
which  he  had  been  elected  the  preceding  fall.  He 
served  one  term  and  was  appointed  to  membership 
on  some  important  committees.  He  has  served 
five  years  as  Alderman  in  the  Common  Council  of 
Newton,  and  in  the  spring  of  1893  was  chosen 
Justice  of  the  Peace  once  more. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shup  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Shup  has 
been  Steward  and  Trustee  for  eight  years.  He  is 
a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  holding  membership  with 
Newton  Lodge  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Newton 
Chapter  No.  109,  R.  A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  of 
Newton  Camp  No.  479,  M.  W.  A.  About  1879, 
Mr.  Shup,  in  company  with  his  nephew,  Frank  L. 
Shup,  purchased  the  Newton  Press,  with  which  he 
was  connected  for  about  three  years,  when  he  with- 
drew. The  paper  is  now  owned  and  conducted 
by  Frank  L.  Shup.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
one  of  the  well-known  old  settlers  of  Jasper  County. 
He  was  a  brave  soldier,  whose  crippled  arm  bears 
testimony  to  his  gallant  conduct  on  the  field  of 
battle.  As  a  public  officer  he  has  always  been 
found  capable  and  faithful  to  duty,  and  as  a  cit- 
izen upright,  patriotic  and  reliable. 


JE.  O.  CLARKE,  editor   and    proprietor   of 
the  Newton  Mentor,  and  Postmaster  of  New- 
1    ton,  was  born    near   New  Harmony,  Posey 
County,  Ind.,  December  17,  1848,  and  is  a 
son  of  J.  E.  and  Angelina  Harrison  (Tillitt)  Clarke. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and  his  mother 
of  Kentucky.     With  their  family  they  emigrated 
to  Illinois  in  1858,  locating  in   Grayville,  White 
County,  where  the   mother  still   resides.     The  fa- 
ther died  at  that  place  in  1867. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  his  school  life 
in  his  native  county,  but  his  opportunities  were 
quite  limited.  He  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Illinois.  His  father  was  a 
newspaper  man  and  published  the  Grayville  hide- 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


pendent,  which  paper  is  still  in  existence,  being 
now  published  by  a  brother  and  nephew  of  our 
subject.  At  the  age  of  eleven  years  J.  K.  O.  Clarke 
began  learning  the  printer's  trade  in  his  father's 
office,  where  he  was  employed  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  Here  he  was  largely  educated, 
gaining  a  practical  and  useful  knowledge.  When 
he  had  arrived  at  man's  estate  he  went  to  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.,  and  was  employed  in  the  office  of  the 
Evansville  Daily  Journal  for  seven  years,  or  until 
his  father's  death,  when  he  returned  to  Grayville. 
During  the  twelve  succeeding  years  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother  in  the  publication  of  the 
Independent.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
went  to  Kansas,  and  for  a  time  was  employed  in 
the  line  of  his  trade  in  Newton,  of  that  State,  on 
the  Newton  Kansan.  In  February,  1888,  he  ar- 
rived in  Newton,  111.,  and  purchased  the  office  and 
business  of  the  Newton  Mentor,  which  he  has  since 
conducted  with  marked  success. 

Mr.  Clarke  was  married  in  Evansville,  Ind.,  in 
February,  1872,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Mary  S.  Price,  who  was  born  in  Estill  County,  Ky., 
a  daughter  of  Morton  M.  and  Fanny  Price.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  a  family  of  four  children, 
a  son  and  three  daughters,  namely:  Mabel,  Helen, 
Ernest  M.  and  Fanny  A.  Mrs.  Clarke  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
a  most  estimable  lady.  Her  death  occurred  May  2, 
1888,  and  was  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 

In  politics  Mr.  Clarke  is  a  radical  Republican. 
He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Grant  at  his  second 
election  and  has  since  been  a  stalwart  advocate  of 
Republican  principles,  doing  all  in  his  power  for 
the  promotion  of  his  party's  interests.  On  the 
30th  of  January,  1890,  Mr.  Clarke  was  appointed 
Postmaster  of  Newton,  which  position  he  holds  at 
this  writing.  He  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge 
No.  161,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  Opal  Encampment 
No.  109,  of  that  order.  He  has  represented  his 
lodge  and  encampment  in  the  grand  bodies  of  that 
fraternity,  and  has  been  an  active  and  influential 
member  for  many  years. 

The  Newton  Mentor,  of  which  Mr.  Clarke  is 
editor  and  proprietor,  was  founded  in  the  fall  of 
1882  by  Charles  M.  Davis,  who  issued  the  first 


number  of  that  paper  on  the  3d  of  November. 
In  1888  Mr.  Clarke  became  proprietor,  and  has 
since  conducted  it  with  marked  success.  The  pa- 
per is  a  five-column  quarto,  one  side  of  which  is 
auxilliary  print.  It  is  neatly  printed,  ably  edited 
and  is  reliably  Republican  on  the  political  ques- 
tions of  the  day.  In  fact,  it  is  a  wide-awake  Re- 
publican journal  and  the  only  one  published  in 
the  interests  of  that  party  in  Jasper  County.  The 
office  of  the  Mentor  is  well  appointed  and  our  sub- 
ject enjoys  a  liberal  patronage  in  the  line  of  job 
work.  As  a  Postmaster,  Mr.  Clarke  is  very  efficient 
and  popular,  and  by  his  fellow-citizens  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem. 


SPRING,  deceased,  was  a  worthy 
pioneer  of  Richland  County, and  for  many 
years  a  prominent  and  influential  business 
man  of  Olney.  He  was  born  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  December  2,  1806,  and  was  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Spring.  In  1819,  when 
thirteen  years  of  age,  he  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents to  the  United  States.  Soon  after  landing  the 
family  set  out  for  Illinois,  traveling  by  stage, 
there  being  no  railway  connection  with  the  West 
in  those  days.  The  father,  who  was  in  feeble 
health,  died  in  Pennsylvania  while  en  route.  Mrs. 
Spring  continued  the  journey  with  her  family, 
and  after  many  hardships  they  reached  their  desti- 
nation, Edwards  County,  111.,  and  joined  the  well- 
known  English  colony  in  Albion  of  that  county. 
There  the  subject  of  our  sketch  grew  to  man- 
hood, and  on  the  31st  of  December,  1841,  wa 
married  by  Judge  Walter  L.  Mayo  to  Miss  Caro- 
line R.  Mount.  Mrs.  Spring  was  born  on  Nan- 
tucket  Island,  Mass.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Format 
Marshall  and  Mary  A.  Mount.  In  April,  1842, 
our  subject  removed  to  Olney,  and  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  a  small  way  in  a  room  about 
12x14  feet  in  size.  Later  he  removed  to  more 
commodious  quarters.  He  subsequently  erected 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


327 


brick  business  building  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
Main  and  Boone  Streets,  now  occupied  by  his  sons, 
which  he  occupied  until  1868,  carrying  on  an  ex- 
tensive business  as  a  general  merchant.  He  also 
dealt  in  farm  produce,  which  was  shipped  by  water. 

In  the  meantime,  and  subsequently,  Mr.  Spring 
continued  merchandising.  In  1865,  in  company 
witli  other  citizens  of  capital  in  Olney,  he  founded 
the  First  National  Bank  of  this  city,  which  was 
incorporated  December  5  of  that  year.  He  was 
elected  the  first  President  of  the  bank  and  was 
re-elected  to  that  office  at  each  succeeding  election 
until  1881,  when  he  withdrew  from  the  institu- 
tion, and  on  the  14th  of  February,  1882,  in  com- 
pany with  John  N.  Horner  and  others  he  founded 
the  Olney  National  Bank.  He  was  elected  its 
President  and  held  that  position  during  the  exist- 
ence of  the  bank.  Owing  to  the  Government  call- 
ing in  the  bonds  on  which  the  bank  was  establishedj 
it  was  forced  to  close  its  existence  as  a  national 
bank  in  February,  1887,  but  its  proprietors  at 
once  organized  in  its  place  the  private  banking 
house  since  known  as  the  Olney  Bank,  of  which 
Mr.  Spring  was  President.  He  retired  from  mer- 
chandising in  1866,  and  subsequently  devoted  his 
attention  to  banking,  continuing  to  serve  as  Pres- 
ident of  the  Olney  Bank  until  the  fall  of  1888, 
when  on  account  of  increasing  years  he  resigned 
and  retired  from  active  business.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  21st  of  August,  1890,  at  the  ripe 
old  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spring  were  blessed  with  a  large 
family.  Four  children  died  young  and  eight 
grew  to  mature  years.  Those  now  living  are 
Mary  R.,  who  was  the  second  white  child  born  in 
Olney,  and  who  is  now  the  wife  of  T.  W.  Scott,  of 
Fail-field,  III.;  Florence  E.,  the  wife  of  J.  H. 
Senseman,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  and  who  is  Cashier  of  the  Olney  Bank; 
Edward,  who  married  Miss  Kate, daughter  of  Rev. 
W.  E.  Ravetiscraft,  and  is  now  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Spring  Brothers,  of  Oluej',  dealers  in 
wool  and  seeds;  Carrie  M.;  Elizabeth  A.,  wife  of 
Medford  Powell,  of  Chicago;  Laura,  who  resides 
with  her  mother;  Han^y  B.,  who  married  Miss  Vic- 
toria Eckenrode,  and  is  the  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Spring  Brothers,  of  Olney;  and  Kate  L., 


wife  of  J.  II.  Daubury,  of  Memphis,  Tenn.  Mrs. 
Spring  survives  her  husband  and  resides  at  the 
old  homestead  in  Olney  with  her  unmarried  chil- 
dren. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Spring  was  a  Republican.  He 
helped  to  organize  the  village  of  Olney  in  Au- 
gust, 1847,  and  was  chosen  the  first  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  He  was  active  in  public 
affairs  and  was  known  as  a  man  of  superior  busi- 
ness ability  and  of  the  strictest  integrity.  His 
success,  which  was  marked,  was  the  result  of  his 
own  efforts. 


&HOMAS  GARDNER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  19,  Olney  Town- 
ship, has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
Richland  County,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
16th  of  December,  1849,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
of  his  present  home.  He  was  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  four  sons  born  unto  Lorenzo  and  Eliza 
(Gratehouse)  Gardner.  His  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Illinois.  The  father  was  born  in  Wabash 
County,  July  16,  1817,  and  when  a  small  child 
came  to  Richland  County  with  his  parents.  He 
here  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  following  the 
occupation  of  farming.  He  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead on  the  15th  of  January,  1880.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Edwards  County,  111.,  and  was  called  from 
this  life  December  16, 1851.  Both  were  of  English 
extraction  and  were  prominent  and  well-known 
people.  The  family  is  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  this  locality. 

Our  subject  was  only  two  years  old  when  his 
mother  died.  As  his  father  was  in  poor  health,  he 
remained  upon  the  old  homestead  and  aided  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm  until  twenty-nine  years  of 
age.  No  event  of  special  importance  occurred 
during  his  youth.  His  father  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Ann  E.  Combs,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio  March  19,  1834.  They  became 
parents  of  nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 


328 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing,  as  follows:  William  J.,  a  farmer,  who  now  op- 
erates the  old  homestead;  Fannie,  wife  of  Jacob 
Ernest,  who  follows  farming  in  Crawford  County, 
111.;  Lorenzo  D.,  who  operates  a  farm  in  Olney 
Township;  Charles  T.,  who  is  still  living  on  the 
old  homestead;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Joseph  Harmon, 
an  agriculturist  of  this  county;  and  Henry  C.,  who 
is  also  on  the  old  homestead.  The  mother  of  this 
family  died  September  9,  1876,  and  like  her  hus- 
band was  buried  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery.  Our 
subject  has  but  one  own  brother  now  living,  Joel,  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Edwards  County,  111. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1883,  Thomas  Gardner  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Joseph  Ferris,  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  born  February  11,  1854.  Two  chil- 
dren grace  this  union:  Isaand  David  N.  O.  The 
parents  have  a  wide  acquaintance  in  this  commu- 
nity and  are  estimable  people,  well  deserving  of 
representation  in  this  volume. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Gardner  is  a 
Democrat,  and  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of 
that  party,  although  he  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  in  his 
district.  He  is  a  member  of  no  religious  or- 
ganization, but  gives  of  his  means  to  the  support 
of  the  Christian  Church,  to  which  his  wife  belongs. 
His  farm  comprises  sixty  acres  of  good  land,  all 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Born  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Gardner  has  here  spent  his  entire  life, 
and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  much  of  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  communit3r. 


OHN  NEGELEY  resides  on  section  6,  Den- 
ver Township,  and  is  acknowledged  to  be 
one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  farmers 
of  Richland  County.  He  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends.  Born  in  Vanderburg  County, 
Ind.,  in  October,  1840,  he  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Kate  (Wolf)  Negeley.  His  father  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  in  1812,  and  was  a  farmer  and 


teamster.  In  1836  he  crossed  the  briny  deep  to 
the  New  World  and  located  in  Evansville,  Ind., 
where  he  bought  wild  land  and  cleared  and  opened 
up  a  farm.  He  and  his  wife  both  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives  in  that  State.  Although 
Mr.  Negeley  came  to  this  country  empty-handed, 
he  left  at  his  death  a  good  property.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  resolultion  and  force  of  character. 
In  the  family  were  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  John;  George  died  in  Evans- 
ville, Ind.;  Jo  is  a  farmer  of  Clay  County,  111.; 
Pete  is  the  next  younger;  Kate  is  the  wife  of  Paul 
Hildebrand,  of  Indiana;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John 
Bacon,  of  Gallatin  County,  111.;  and  Lena  is  the 
wife  of  Casper  Hildebrand,  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Negeley  whose  name  heads  this  record  re- 
mained upon  his  father's  farm  until  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  in  his  youth  attended  the  parochial 
and  public  schools,  but  though  his  advantages 
were  then  limited  his  extensive  reading  in  later 
years  has  made  him  a  well-informed  man.  He  is 
now  giving  much  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  the 
Bible  and  the  works  written  by  well-known  infidels 
and  agnostics. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Negeley  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Indiana  with  Margaret 
Weidner,  of  that  State,  daughter  of  Adam  Weid- 
ner,  who  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Richland  County.  The  young  couple  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  the  farm  which  is  still  their 
home.  It  comprised  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  and  the  improvements  upon  it  were  a  log 
cabin  and  log  stable.  Together  they  labored,  and 
as  the  result  of  their  united  efforts  have  acquired 
a  fortune.  Mr.  Negeley  has  not  only  been  a  suc- 
cessful farmer,  but  has  also  carried  on  stock-raising 
with  profit.  He  now  owns  six  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden 
tribute. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
five  children:  Sarah  became  the  wife  of  Jo  Mor- 
gan and  died  leaving  two  children;  Josephine  is 
the  wife  of  John  Hemrich,  a  farmer  of  Clay  County; 
George,  Adam  and  Daniel  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Negeley  was  formerly  a  Knight-Templar 
Mason,  but  is  now  connected  with  no  fraternal 
societ3-,  church  or  political  organization.  He  is  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


329 


deep  thinker,  a  logical  reasoner,  and  holds  himself 
free  from  all  alliances  which  would  prevent  free- 
dom of  thought.  For  a  third  of  a  century  he  has 
resided  in  the  county,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
its  valued  citizens,  as  well  as  one  of  its  substantial 
farmers. 


VSBORN  HENRY,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  section  9,  Decker  Township, 
Richland  County,  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  111.,  February  10,  1843.  and  is  of  Irish  de- 
scent. His  grandfather  was  a  native  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle,  and  for  some  time  followed  the  sea.  He 
became  one  of  the  first  white  settlers  of  Crawford 
Count}',  from  where  he  was  three  times  driven  out 
by  the  Indians.  On  horseback  he  came  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Illinois.  His  son,  R.  A.  Henry,  the  fath- 
er of  our  subject,  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Craw- 
ford Count}',  where  his  birth  occurred.  He  was  a 
merchant,  and  also  an  extensive  stock  dealer, 
but  as  he  traded  largely  in  the  South,  he  was 
financially  ruined  during  the  war,  losing  $60,000 
on  account  of  the  worthless  currency  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  died  in  Arkansas  in  1870.  Near 
Vincennes,  III.,  he  married  Sarah  A.  Luckey,  whose 
father  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Her  death 
occurred  in  Richland  County  in  the  winter  of 
1892.  On  fifteen  different  occasions  during  her 
girlhood  she  was  forced  to  flee  to  Ft.  Knox  to 
escape  the  Indians.  In  the  Henry  family  were 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  Osborn 
Henry  grew  to  manhood.  He  received  no  educa- 
tional privileges,  and  his  advantages  in  other  di- 
rections were  almost  as  meagre.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  he  came  to  Richland  County,  and  cut 
the  first  tree  upon  his  present  farm  to  make  rails. 
The  place  had  no  improvements  and  was  mostly 
covered  with  timber,  but  he  built  a  log  cabin  and 
at  once  began  the  development  of  his  land.  He  at 
first  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  but  the 
boundaries  of  his  farm  he  has  since  extended  until 


now  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  pay 
tribute  to  his  care  and  cultivation.  Upon  the  place 
is  a  good  orchard  of  twenty-five  acres,  together 
with  all  the  necessary  buildings  and  all  modern 
improvements.  His  fields  are  well  tilled  and  he 
raises  a  good  grade  of  cattle  and  horses. 

In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Mr.  Henry  mar- 
ried Miss  Elvessa  Goss,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  whither  her  parents  removed  from  Ken- 
tucky in  the  year  1843.  After  her  death  lie  was 
again  married,  this  time  marrying  Miss  Mamie  R. 
Langdon,  daughter  of  Dr.  Langdon,  of  Noble 
Township.  She  was  born  and  reared  near  Noble, 
and  acquired  an  excellent  education  in  its  public 
schools.  For  six  years  she  successfully  engaged  in 
teaching.  To  her  knowledge  she  has  greatly  added 
by  extensive  reading,  and  Mrs.  Henry  is  now  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  cul- 
tured ladies  of  this  community.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  two  children.  They  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  are  people 
whose  worth  and  ability  have  won  for  them  an  en- 
viable position  in  the  best  circles  of  society.  Fra- 
ternally, Mr.  Henry  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
lodge  of  Noble. 


ENRY  G.  ROBINSON,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  section  12,  Granville  Township,  has  the 
-honor  of  being  a  native  of  this  State.  He 
was  born  near  Lawrenceville,in  Lawrence  County, 
his  birth  occurring  April  30,  1824.  His  parents, 
John  and  Sophia  (Cable)  Robinson,  were  both  na- 
tives of  Kentucky.  About  1820,  they  left  their 
native  State,  and  making  the  journey  by  team  re- 
moved to  Lawrence  County,  111.,  where  Mr.  Rob- 
inson entered  land  from  the  Government  and  be- 
gan farming.  He  there  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1862.  His  wife  passed  awa}' 
several  years  previous,  dying  in  1844.  They  had 
a  family  of  fourteen  children:  Mary  A.,  Samuel  J., 
Jeremiah,  George  K.,  William,  Catherine,  Sophia, 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Henry  G.,  Cauthorn,  John  T.  Richard  H.,  Nancy, 
Marion,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Henry  Robin- 
son spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  a  subscription  school, 
which  was  held  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  and  is  famil- 
iar with  all  the  experiences  and  trials  of  frontier 
life.  To  his  father  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his  ser- 
vices until  twenty  years  of  age,  when,  wishing  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood,  he  began  working  on  a 
farm  for  $8  per  month.  In  that  manner  he  was 
employed  until  the  spring  when  he  attained  his 
majority.  He  then  went  to  Galena,  111.,  where  he 
was  employed  during  the  summer  months  in  the 
lead  mines  and  engaged  in  chopping  wood  during 
the  winter  season. 

Mr.  Robinson  spent  his  time  in  that  manner 
until  1847,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Com- 
pany I,  First  Regiment  United  States  Infantry, 
for  the  Mexican  War.  He  was  stationed  at  the 
fort  in  Vera  Cruz  for  eight  months,  and  then 
went  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  where  he  was  stationed 
for  about  three  weeks  under  Gen.  Scott.  After 
four  years  spent  in  Cuanavaca,  he  returned  to  the 
city  of  Mexico,  where  he  wus  detailed  to  act  as 
city  police,  which  office  he  held  for  four  months. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  started  on  the 
march  for  Vera  Cruz,  but  while  on  the  way  received 
a  sunstroke.  With  his  regiment  he  then  went  to 
New  Orleans  and  then  to  Pensacola  Bay,  Fla., 
where  he  was  discharged  July  20,  1848. 

On  returning  to  his  old  home,  Mr.  Robinson 
again  engaged  in  farming  near  Lawrenceville 
until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  came  to  Jasper 
County,  and  located  a  land  warrant  that  secured 
him  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides.  It  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  which 
are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. It  has  now  been  his  home  continuously 
since  1849,  with  the  exception  of  the  years  of 
1859  and  1860,  which  hespentat  Pike's  Peak,  Colo. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1850,  Mr.  Robinson 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amelia  Leach, 
and  four  children  graced  their  union:  James  W., 
John  P.,  Annie  M.  and  Austin.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  in  1860,  and  the  following  year 
Mr.  Robinson  wedded  Miss  Cornelia  Thorn.  They 


have  seven  children,  as  follows:  Lizzie  R.,  Henry 
C.,  Mary  J.,  Charles  H.,  Ida,  George  L.  and  Ar- 
milda. 

Mr.  Robinson  has  led  a  busy  life,  yet  has  found 
time  to  devote  to  public  interests  and  has  fre- 
quently been  called  by  his  fellow-townsmen  to 
public  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  has  filled 
the  positions  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Constable, 
Township  Collector  and  School  Director,  and  has 
ever  discharged  his  duties  with  promptness  and 
fidelity.  In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Dem- 
ocracy, and  religiously  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  For  forty-three  years  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Jasper  County,  and  well  deserves  to 
be  ranked  among  its  honored  pioneers. 


jUSSELL  HARRISON,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates two  hundred  and  four  acres  of  good 
land  in  Richland  County,  has  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  Illinois.  He  was  born  near  Lan- 
caster, March  3,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Nancy  (Higgins)  Harrison,  who  were  natives  of 
the  Empire  State.  They  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Wabash  County,  111.,  locating  there  in 
1815,  at  a  time  when  Indians  were  still  very  nu- 
merous. The  father  died  March  18,  1838.  His 
wife,  who  survived  him  many  years,  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  March  25,  1875. 

Our  subject  was  only  a  lad  of  four  years  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death.  At  the  age  of  eight  he 
left  home  and  came  to  Richland  County  to  live 
with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Ridgely,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  After 
arriving  at  man's  estate  he  attended  the  seminary 
in  Mt.  Carmel  for  a  few  months,  and  then  em- 
barked in  teaching  school,  whicli  profession  he 
followed  each  winter  from  that  time  until  1880. 
The  long  years  of  his  service  in  that  line  well  in- 
dicate his  efficiency  as  an  instructor. 

On  the  23d  of  March,  1856,  Mr.  Harrison  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Price,  of  Lancaster,  111.  Five  children 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


331 


graced  their  union:  Lee  W.;  Eri;  Lucy  L.,  wife  of 
D.  O.  Dodds;  Mary  I.,  wife  of  T.  Hendrick,  and 
Anna  I).,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of 
tins  family  was  called  to  her  final  rest  April  27, 
1867,  and  on  the  25th  of  November,  1868,  Mr. 
Harrison  married  Sarah  E.  Rose,  of  Parkersburg. 
Three  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage, 
namely:  Delbert  C.,  Alva  E.  and  Edith  R. 

Mr.  Harrison  has  followed  farming  throughout 
his  entire  life,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  In  1865 
he  purchased  his  present  farm,  now  comprising  two 
hundred  and  four  acres.  It  was  then  but  par- 
tially improved,  but  he  has  added  much  to  it  in 
the  way  of  comfortable  buildings,  etc.  The  fields 
are  well  tilled,  and  in  all  its  appointments  the 
place  seems  complete.  Its  neat  appearance  indi- 
cates the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  thrift  and  enter- 
prise, and  such  he  is  known  to  be  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Harrison  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  also  takes  a  warm  interest  in  the  tem- 
perance cause.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Chruch.  The  members  of  the 
Harrison  household  are  highly  respected  citizens 
and  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles 
where  true  worth  and  intelligence  are  received  as 
the  passports  into  good  society. 


<Qfr        = 


TACY  B.  YOUNGMAN,  M.  D.,  who  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  the 
medical  profession  in  West  Liberty,  claims 
Kentucky  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Mason  County,  August 
24,  1813.  The  family  is  of  English  extraction, 
and  the  father  of  our  subject,  Jesse  Youngman, 
was  a  native  of  West  Virginia.  He  married  Amy 
Dicks,  and  unto  them  were  born  seven  children: 
George,  who  died  in  1868;  the  Doctor;  Sallie,  who 
died  when  a  small  girl;  Rebecca,  who  died  in  1874; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Allen  G.  Parris,  a  boot  and  shoe 
maker  of  Indiana;  Serelda,  wife  of  Ephraim 
Adams,  of  Fillmore,  Iiid.;  and  Samantha,  twin  sis- 


ter of  Serelda,  who  became  the  wife  of  Stephen 
Wood,  and  is  now  deceased.  Throughout  nearly 
his  entire  life,  the  father  of  this  family  engaged 
in  school  teaching.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  when  sixty-eight 
years  of  age. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Dr. 
Youngman,  who  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  upon  a  farm.  His  primary  education 
was  acquired  in  the  district  schools  and  supple- 
mented by  private  study  and  reading.  Under  the 
parental  roof  he  remained  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  but  he  did  not  wish  to  follow  farming. 
His  taste  led  him  to  enter  the  medical  profession. 
He  had  studied  medicine  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Drs.  H.  E.  and  T.  W.  Cowgill,  at  Greencastle, 
Ind.,  and  in  1852  entered  the  Louisville  (Ky.) 
Medical  College.  On  completing  his  course  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Greencastle,  Ind.,  and 
then  went  to  Cloverdale,  that  State,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  practice  until  1859.  His  next  field  of 
labor  was  in  Greencastle,  and  later  he  went  to 
New  Lebanon,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  until  June, 
1861.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Jasper  County, 
111.,  and  purchased  a  small  farm  in  what  is  now 
Fox  Township,  but  immediately  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  lie  there  remained 
until  1880,  when  he  came  to  West  Liberty  and 
opened  a  drug  store,  which  he  now  carries  on. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Youngman 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Lurana  B.  Mark. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  November  18,  1834. 
and  unto  them  have  been  born  eleven  children: 
Eliza  J.,  George  C.,  James  T.,  Harriet  E..  John  M., 
Josephine  C.,  Mary  A.,  Lurana  F.,  Emma  D.,  Eddie 
M.  and  Elmer.  The  family  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  in  this  community,  and  its  members 
rank  high  in  social  circles. 

Since  his  boyhood  Dr.  Youngman  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
his  life  has  been  in  harmony  with  his  professions, 
winning  him  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all  with 
whom  business  or  pleasure  has  brought  him  in 
contact.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  W.  II.  Harrison,  and  since  the  organization 
of  the  Republican  party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


supporters.  While  in  Indiana,  he  held  the  office 
of  Magistrate.  He  has  served  as  Notary  Public 
for  four  years,  and  as  Deputy  Postmaster  for  a 
year  and  a-half.  He  is  doing  a  good  business  in 
West  Liberty,  and  is  one  of  the  respected  citizens 
of  the  community,  honored  by  all  who  know  him. 


YLVANUS  S.  FARLEY,  who  is  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Jasper  County, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  general  farming  on 
section  6,  Granville  Township,  was  born 
on  the  old  Farley  homestead  in  that  township, 
January  27,  1853,  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
this  locality.  He  is  a  son  of  Forrest  and  Sarah  J. 
Farley,  pioneers  of  Jasper  County,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads.  As  soon  as  he  could  handle  a 
plow  he  began  work  in  the  fields,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer months  devoted  his  energies  to  farm  labors. 
In  the  winter  season  lie  attended  the  district 
schools  and  therein  acquired  a  fair  business  edu- 
cation. He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1873,  Mr.  Farley  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Virtue,  who 
died  on  the  20th  of  August,  1875.  On  the  8th  of 
March,  1877,  he  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Isabel,  daughter  of  David 
and  Amanda  Clark.  Five  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The  four 
who  are  still  living  are:  Eva,  Jason,  Orville  and 
Leveta.  They  are  still  under  the  parental  roof. 

On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  Mr.  Farley 
embarked  in  the  pursuit  to  which  he  had  been 
reared.  For  the  first  year  lie  rented  a  farm,  but 
on  the  expiration  of  a  twelvemonth  with  the  capi- 
tal he  had  acquired  through  his  own  labors,  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  6,  Gran- 
ville Township.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1874,  and 
since  that  time  it  has  been  his  home.  The  bound- 
aries of  his  farm,  however,  he  has  extended  until 


it  now  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
good  land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  His  farm  is  a 
valuable  one  and  well  improved.  In  connection 
with  general  farming  he  carries  on  stock-raising. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Farley  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs  and  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party,  which  he  has  supported  since 
becoming  a  voter.  He  has  served  his  township  as 
Road  Commissioner,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of 
Veterans,  and  holds  membership  with  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  always  gives  his  support  to 
all  public  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  gen- 
eral benefit,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  spent 
his  entire  life. 


B.  WALDEN,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Richland  County,  and  a  repre- 
sentative agriculturist  of  Olney  Township, 
residing  on  section  7,  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  place  of  his  birth  is  in  Hardin  County, 
and  the  date  is  August  26, 1838.  His  father,  Henry 
Waldeh,  was  born  in  Kentucky  on  the  1st  of 
October,  1801,  and  throughout  his  life  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  The  family  is  of  Irish 
extraction.  He  was  married  in  his  native  State  to 
Sarah  Ritchison,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  No- 
vember 4,  1801,  and  came  of  an  old  family  of 
English  lineage.  They  had  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, the  youngest  of  whom  is  our  subject.  The 
mother  died  June  26,  1848,  and  the  death  of  the 
father  occurred  on  the  6th  of  May,  1849. 

Joseph  B.  Walden  was  a  lad  of  only  ten  sum- 
mers when  his  mother  died.  He  then  went  to  live 
with  his  brother-in-law,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  The  public 
schools  afforded  him  his  educational  privileges. 
When  a  youth  of  fourteen  he  came  with  his  sister 
and  her  husband  to  Richland  County. and  has  here 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


333 


since  made  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  the 
time  which  he  spent  in  the  late  war.  Responding 
to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  in  December,  1861, 
he  donned  the  blue  and  joined  Company  I,  Sixty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until 
the  cessation  of  hostilities,  after  the  preservation 
of  the  Union  was  an  assured  fact.  He  participated 
in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  but  es- 
caped without  injury,  and  as  a  faithful  soldier  was 
honorably  discharged  in  1865. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Air.  Walden  purchased 
forty  acres  of  timberland,  a  part  of  his  present 
farm,  and  began  its  development.  As  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Miss 
Lavina  E.  Redman,  who  was  born  June  27,  1842, 
in  Kentucky.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in  1867, 
and  her  death  occurred  January  4,  1877.  She  left 
two  children:  Sarah  J.  and  John  William  H.  In 
1879  Mr.  Walden  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Ferrell,  of  this 
county,  who  died  in  January,  1880. 

The  farm  which  isno.v  the  property  of  our  sub- 
ject is  conveniently  located  four  and  a-half  miles 
southwest  of  Olney.  It  comprises  eighty  acres  of 
rich  land,  all  of  which  are  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. It  has  not  only  been  improved  but  was 
cleared  by  the  owner,  and  everything  on  the  place 
represents  his  labor  and  efforts,  while  its  buildings 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 
Mr.  Walden  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  New  Light  Church. 


'"'OHN  II.  RIGGS,  who  follows  farming  on 
section  30,  Preston  Township,  wore  the  blue 
x?=>,  ii  in  the  late  war,  and  as  one  of  the  defenders 
^c5i^  of  his  country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  he  well 
deserves  mention  in  this  volume.  A  native  of  Or- 
ange County,  Ind.,  he  was  born  on  the  6th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1842,  and  is  one  of  thirteen  children  whose 
parents  were  Aaron  and  Jerusha  (Sutton)  Riggs. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  Of  the  children,  six  died  in  in- 


fancy.  The  others  were  Polly  A.,  Reddin,  Lucy 
A.,  Samuel  G.,  Uriah  R.,  Mahala,  Harvey  and  John 
II.,  but  only  Samuel,  Harvey  and  our  subject  are 
now  living.  • 

John  Riggs  spent  his  boyhood  days  quietly  upon 
his  father's  farm.  His  educational  privileges  were 
quite  limited,  and  were  afforded  by  the  district 
schools.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Richland 
County  in  1843,  when  only  a  year  old,  and  was 
here  reared  to  manhood.  He  was  still  under  the 
parental  roof  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war, 
and  on  the  8th  of  August,  1863,  he  responded  to 
the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting  as  a  private 
of  Company  G,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
which  was  mounted  about  nine  months  later.  He 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Centralia,  and  the 
first  active  engagement  in  which  he  participated 
was  at  Hoover's  Gap.  He  was  under  fire  at  the 
battles  of  Ringgold,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Selma,  Chick- 
amauga,  Atlanta,  Resaca,  Mission  Ridge,  Kencsaw 
Mountain,  Florence,  Cross  Keys,  and  many  others. 
He  was  always  faithful  to  his  duty  in  the  defense 
of  the  Old  Flag,  and  when  the  war  was  over,  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  on  the  6th 
of  July,  1865. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Mr.  Riggs  located  on  a 
tract  of  land  given  him  by  his  father,  and  there 
resided  until  1874,  when  lie  went  to  Madison 
Township  and  purchased  a  farm,  to  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  which  he  devoted  his  ener- 
gies until  1879.  In  that  year  lie  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  in.  Preston  Township,  which  lie  oper- 
ated for  a  year,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm.  He  now  owns  ninety-six  acres  of  land  on 
section  30,  and  in  addition  to  general  farming  he 
carries  on  stock-raising.  His  land  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Riggs  married  Miss  Martha  Allen, 
and  unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Jane,  but  she 
is  now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  1868,  and 
the  following  year  our  subject  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Cornelia  Williamson.  Five  chil- 
dren graced  this  union,  but  Belle,  the  eldest, 
and  Oscar,  the  third  child,  are  now  deceased. 
Those  still  living  are  Ziua.  Ida  F.  and  Raymond. 

In  hi9  political  affiliations  Mr.  Riggs  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  Almost 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county,  and 
those  who  have  known  him  from  boyhood  and 
have  witnessed  his  honorable,  upright  career  are 
liis  stanchest  friends.  He  was  a  valiant  soldier 
during  the  late  war,  and  is  alike  true  in  times  of 
peace.  He  and  his  wife  have  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  this  community,  and  hold  an  enviable 
position  in  the  circles  of  society  in  which  they 
move. 


AVID  S.  CURRY,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  sections  5 
and  6,  Bon  pas  Township,  Richland  County, 
is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier  State,  his  birth 
having  occurred  near  Winchester,  Ind.,  March  23, 
1847.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent, and  the  grandmother  was  of  German  line- 
age. Robert  H.  Curry  was  born  in  Allegheny 
County,  Pa.,  in  1811,  and  his  wife  was  a  native 
of  Virginia.  Her  death  occurred  in  Winchester, 
Ind.,  when  our  subject  was  about  four  years  of 
age.  The  father  afterward  came  to  Richland 
County  with  his  son  David,  and  here  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  16,  1870. 

Mr.  Curry,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  re- 
ceived but  limited  school  privileges,  yet  by  his 
observation  and  experience  he  has  made  himself  a 
well-informed  man.  He  was  married  on  the  5th 
of  February,  1874,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  J.  L.  Byers,  of  Bonpas 
Township.  Seven  children  have  been  born  of 
their  union,  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  viz.: 
Lora  R.,  Mary  H.,  Alice  E.,  Florence  E.,  Harriet 
H.,  Clarence  B.  H.  and  John  L.  The  family  circle 
yet  remains  unbroken  and  the  children  are  all 
yet  under  the  parental  roof.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  December,  1859,  Mr.  Curry  came  to  Rich- 
land  County.  For  three  years  he  lived  near  Cal- 
houn,  and  then  purchased  his  present  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  which  at  that  time  was  a 
tract  of  raw  land.  His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin, 


which  he  built,  and  which  still  stands  on  the 
farm,  one  of  the  few  landmarks  of  the  early  days 
yet  remaining.  The  first  season  he  planted  an 
orchard,  and  he  now  has  a  fine  orchard  of  ten 
acres  of  apples,  and  ten  acres  of  peach  trees. 
He  raises  very  fine  fruit,  and  for  many  years  past 
has  made  exhibits  of  the  same  at  the  State  Fairs, 
where  he  has  taken  many  premiums.  In  1892  he 
took  the  first  premium  on  six  exhibits  and  the 
third  premium  on  four  exhibits.  One  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  his  land  are  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and,  in  connection  with  general  farm- 
ing and  fruit-growing,  he  was  for  many  years  en- 
gaged in  the  breeding  of  Poland-China  hogs.  In 
regard  to  the  improvements  upon  the  place,  we 
would  say  that  none  of  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  are  lacking.  His  present  residence  was  erected 
in  1890.  It  is  one  of  the  most  comfortable  and 
commodious  dwellings  in  the  township,  being  a 
two-story  frame  building  of  fine  appearance.  In 
1892  he  built  a  large  barn,  32x48  feet.  The  neat 
appearance  of  this  place,  with  its  well-tilled  fields 
and  modern  conveniences,  all  indicate  the  thrift 
and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  ranks  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  his  adopted  county.  Mr. 
Curry  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  Republican  part}'. 


)HE  OLNEY  BANK,  of  Olney,  111.,  was  or- 
ganized as  a  private  banking  house  March 
11,  1887,  being  the  successor  of  the  Olney 
National  Bank,  which  was  incorporated  February 
14,  1882,  by  Messrs.  John  N.  Homer,  Henry 
Spring  and  others,  with  a  paid-up  capital  of 
$60,000.  The  bank  enjoj'ed  a  prosperous  career 
for  five  years,  when  by  the  retirement  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  national  bonds,  on  which  it  was 
based,  it  was  forced  to  surrender  its  charter  and 
discontinue  business  as  a  national  bank.  Henry 
Spring  was  President  of  the  Olney  National  Bank; 
John  N.  Homer  Vice-President,  and  J.  H.  Sense- 
man  Cashier. 


: 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


337 


On  the  opening  of  the  Olney  Bank,  the  officers 
of  the  National  Bank  retained  their  relative  posi- 
tions in  the  new  one.  In  June,  1888,  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  Spring,  J.  N.  Horner  succeeded  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  bank  and  has  since  held  that  posi- 
tion. L.  McLean  then  became  Vice-President  and 
Mr.  Senseman  is  still  serving  as  Cashier.  The  fol- 
lowing-named gentlemen  constitute  the  Board  of 
Directors:  J.  N.  Horner,  E.  Murray,  L.  McLean, 
John  Kuster  and  David  Horner. 

This  banking  house  occupies  its  own  building,  a 
two-story  brick  structure,  65x22  feet,  which  the 
company  built  in  1888.  The  proprietors  of  the 
Olney  Bank  are  men  of  well-known  financial  re- 
sponsibility and  unquestioned  integrity.  The  his- 
tory of  the  bank  is  one  of  conservative  and  judi- 
cious management,  and  its  success  and  constantly 
increasing  business  are  a  marked  assurance  of  popu- 
lar favor  with  its  patrons  and  the  general  public. 


ARTIN  TOTTEN,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  section  18,  Olney 
Township,  has  for  forty-five  years  been  a 
resident  of  Richland  County,  and  well  de- 
serves mention  among  its  early  settlers,  for  it  is  to 
those  who  came  here  in  an  early  day  and  bore  the 
hardships  and  difficulties  of  frontier  life  that  the 
county  owes  its  present  prosperity  and  high  stand- 
ing. The  life  record  of  our  subject  is  as  follows: 
He  was  born  July  4,  1826,  near  Cumberland,  Md., 
and  is  a  son  of  .Samuel  and  Rachel  (Poland)  Totten. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  in 
that  State  during  his  youth  learned  the  shoemak- 
er's trade.  When  about  twenty-five  years  of  age, 
he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  and 
reared  a  family.  Unto  the  parents  of  our  subject 
were  born  nine  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  only 
six  are  now  living,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  John 
Shriver,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Indiana;  William 
A.,  a  prominent  farmer  of  Wayne  Count}',  111.; 
Martin,  the  subject  of  this  notice;  James,  now  liv- 

16 


ing  in  Ohio;  Catherine,  wife  of  Edward  Pettit, 
who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  Buck- 
eye State;  and  Jonathan,  a  farmer  of  this  county. 
The  father  of  this  family  died  on  'the  old  home- 
stead in  Oneida,  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years  and  left  to  his  family  quite 
an  estate.  His  wife  survived  him  two  years  and 
passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  They 
were  laid  to  rest  side  by  side  in  Liberty  Cemetery, 
near  Oneida,  where  a  monument  has  been  erected 
to  their  memory. 

Our  subject  was  only  about  six  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until  he  had  ar- 
rived at  years  of  maturity,  and  in  the  common 
schools  acquired  his  education.  On  the  4th  of 
July,  1847,  he  reached  his  majority,  and  in  Octo- 
ber following  married  Miss  Catherine  Gladhart,  of 
Carroll  County,  Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  in  this 
county  in  1854.  She  became  the  mother  of  four 
children,  but  only  one  is  now  living:  Catherine, 
the  wife  of  Martin  Poland,  a  farmer  of  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio.  In  November,  1856,  Mr.  Totten 
married  Susan  Gladhart,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife, 
and  she  died  in  January,  1890,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren. On  the  14th  of  January,  1891,  Mr.  Totten 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  F. 
Hunt,  widow  of  George  Hunt,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mildred  (Ratcliff)  Knight.  She  was 
born  in  this  county  September  27,  1858,  her  parents 
being  numbered  among  the  pioneers. 

Soon  after  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Totten  cast  his 
lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Richland  County,  and 
from  the  Government  entered  the  land  upon  which 
he  now  resides.  It  was  a  tract  of  heavy  timber, 
but  lie  began  clearing  away  the  trees,  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest  he  built  a  log  cabin.  The  work 
of  improvement  he  has  since  continued,  until  he 
now  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  locality, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valu- 
able land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He  is  ably  as- 
sisted by  his  sons  in  this  work. 

Of  the  four  sons  and  five  daughters  born  unto 
Mr.  Totten  by  his  second  marriage  only  six  are 
now  living.  Monroe  follows  farming  in  this 
county;  Marion  resides  in  Missouri;  Madison  is  a 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


prosperous  farmer  of  Olney  Township;  Millie, 
twin  sister  of  Madison,  is  the  wife  of  David  Raney, 
an  agriculturist  of  Macon  County,  111.;  Melissa  is 
a  successful  school  teacher  of  Macon  County;  and 
Freeman  aids  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home  farm. 
For  eight  years  Mr.  Totten  acceptably  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  then  resigned  his  position. 
He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of 
the  Republican  party  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his  business 
interests.  Throughout  his  life  he  has  followed  the 
Golden  Rule,  doing  unto  others  as  he  would  have 
them  do  unto  him.  He  is  widely  known  through- 
out Richland  and  adjoining  counties  as  an  honor- 
able, upright  man,  and  his  word  is  as  good  as  his 
bond.  He  is  also  numbered  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community  and  well  deserves  rep- 
resentation in  the  history  of  his  adopted  count}'. 


'||    i  i    ® 


PORREST  FARLEY,  who  owns  a  fine  farm  Of 
two  hundred  and  thirty -three  acres  on 
sections  29  and  31,  Granville  Township, 
Jasper  County,  is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  this 
community,  who  by  his  own  efforts  has  gained  a 
handsome  competency,  and  deserves  to  be  ranked 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  this  locality. 
His  career  of  industry  and  enterprise  is  one  worthy 
of  emulation.  He  was  born  in  Virginia,  August 
24,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  Farley.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish extraction.  After  attaining  his  majority,  he 
married  Rebecca  McClancy,  a  lady  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Lucinda,  who  died  in  1860;  James  M.,  who  is  liv- 
ing in  Cass  County,  Ind.,  where  he  practices  medi- 
cine; Mary  A.,  wife  of  James  Fears,  a  farmer  of 
Coles  County,  111.;  Forrest,  of  this  sketch;  Jacob, 
who  owns  a  harness  shop  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  and 
Nancy  A.,  who  died  in  1832.  John  J.  Farley  re- 
moved from  his  home  in  Virginia  to  Kentucky  and 
died  in  that  State  in  1830.  He  was  a  millwright 
and  carpenter  by  trade.  About  1831,  after  the 


death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Farley  came  with  her 
family  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Grand  View,  Ed- 
gar County.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  was  called  to  the  home  prepared  for 
the  righteous  in  1877. 

Our  subject  was  about  four  years  of  age  when 
with  his  mother  he  came  to  Illinois.  Upon  the 
home  farm  his  boyhood  days  were  passed,  and  in 
the  common  schools  he  acquired  his  education. 
He  remained  with  his  mother  until  nineteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand,  re- 
ceiving the  munificent  sum  of  $6  per  month  in 
compensation  for  his  services.  The  year  1847 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Jasper  County,  and  saw 
him  located  in  Granville  Township,  where  he  en- 
tered eighty  acres  of  Government  land  on  section 
29.  The  succeeding  three  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  developing  and  improving  that  farm, 
when  he  purchased  the  farm  which  has  since  been 
his  home.  Only  a  few  acres  had  been  broken  and 
a  small  log  cabin  constituted  the  entire  improve- 
ments upon  the  place.  He  first  bought  only  eighty 
acres,  but  as  his  financial  resources  have  increased, 
he  has  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm  from 
time  to  time,  until  now  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  of  highly  improved  land  pay  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and  culti- 
vation. He  also  successfully  carries  on  stock-rais- 
ing to  a  considerable  extent. 

In  1851,  Mr.  Farley  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  J.  demons,  daughter  of  Warden 
and  Rachel  Clemous.  Unto  them  were  born  four- 
teen children,  as  follows:  Sylvanus  S.,  William 
S.  (deceased),  Isadora  F.,  Virginia  A.  (deceased), 
Cynthia  J.,  John  C.,  Jacob  (deceased),  Marietta, 
Minnie  M.,  Thomas  A.,  James  D.  (deceased),  Noah 
M.,  Orrillaand  Leona,  both  deceased. 

Mr.  Farley  manifested  his  loj'alty  to  the  Gov- 
ernment during  the  late  war  by  offering  his  ser- 
vices as  a  soldier  in  1862,  and  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
third  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Matoon,  111., 
and  took  part  in  many  battles,  including  the  en- 
gagementsat  Lookout  Mountain,  Chattanooga  and 
Fariniugton.  He  served  until  June  18,  1865, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  was  in 
the  hospital  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  but  with  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


339 


exception  of  the  period  spent  there,  he  was  never 
off  duty,  but  was  always  found  at  his  post.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private,  but  soon  afterwards  was 
made  Corporal. 

The  fidelity  with  which  Mr.  Farley  served  as  a 
soldier  has  characterized  his  entire  career;  he  is 
true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  and  in  conse- 
quence has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  en- 
tire community.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  Repub- 
lican since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  Road  Commissioner  and 
School  Trustee,  and  has  been  School  Director  for  the 
long  period  of  twenty  years.  For  forty-four  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  is  a  faithful  worker  in  the  Master's  vine- 
yard. A  life  well  and  worthily  spent  is  that 
which  Forrest  Farley  has  led. 


11 


ILLIAM  ELLIOTT,  deceased,  is  numbered 
among  the  early  pioneers  of  Olney.  In  fact, 
he  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Rich- 
land  County,  and  as  such  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume.  A  native  of  North  Carolina, 
he  was  born  in  Rowan  County  in  1810.  In  an 
early  day  his  father,  James  Elliott,  removed  with 
his  family  from  North  Carolina  to  Kentucky  and 
settled  in  Barren  County.  Thence  he  afterward 
went  to  Washington  County,  Ind.,  with  the  in- 
tention of  continuing  his  journey  from  that  place 
and  becoming  a  resident  of  Illinois,  but  was  per- 
suaded from  settling  in  this  Territory,  as  it  was 
then,  on  account  of  the  existing  War  of  1812. 
However,  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible,  James 
Elliott  removed  with  his  family  to  Lawrence 
County,  111.,  and  located  near  Sumner.  In  1824, 
William  Elliott,  our  subject,  came  to  what  is  now 
Olney,  then  a  wilderness,  where  he  purchased  a 
claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  from  David 
Rollins.  Upon  this  farm  the  family  made  their 
home.  Quite  a  portion  of  the  city  of  Olney  has 
since  been  built  upon  a  part  of  that  tract.  In 
1851  James  Elliott  died.  The  son  improved  so 


well  the  opportunities  afforded  him  in  those  early 
days,  that  at  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
13th  of  July,  1874,  he  was  worth  upwards  of 
$50,000. 

Mr.  Elliott  was  twice  married.  First  in  1828, 
when  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Shidler,  who  died  in  1832,  leaving  two  sons, 
of  whom  only  one  survives,  John  Elliott,  who  was 
born  November  3,  1831,  and  is  a  well-known  bus- 
iness man  of  Olney.  A  sketch  of  his  life  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  In  1834,  Mr.  Elliott  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Alta  Webster,  a  native  of  New  York. 

Our  subject  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  was  a  supporter 
of  the  Democracy,  3'et  never  sought  or  desired  the 
honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  He  was 
an  industrious  and  frugal  man,  enterprising  and 
public-spirited,  and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  in 
his  business  career  won  a  handsome  property.  In 
the  community  in  which  he  made  his  home  he  was 
highly  respected.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Richland  County,  for  it  is  the  pioneers  who  lay 
the  foundation  of  a  community  and  deserve  men- 
tion in  her  history. 


eLEMENT  UPTMOR,  Jr.,  a  well-known  bus- 
iness man  of  Teutopolis  and  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  prominent  families  of 
the  county,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  the 
city  which  is  still  his  home.  He  was  born  July 
20,  1840.  His  parents  were  Clement  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  Uptmor.  His  father  has  long  been  a 
leading  and  influential  citizen  of  this  county.  For 
many  years  he  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Teu- 
topolis and  served  as  its  Postmaster.  He  took 
a  prominent  part  in  all  public  affairs,  and  ever 
bore  his  part  in  upholding  the  best  interests  of 
the  community.  He  and  his  wife  traveled  life's 
journey  together  for  more  than  half  a  century, 
sharing  with  each  other  its  joys  and  sorrows, 
its  adversity  and  prosperity.  On  the  21st  of  Sep- 


340 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


lember,  1889,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding. On  the  10th  of  July,  1890,  Mrs.  Uptmor, 
who  had  been  a  faithful  helpmate  and  companion 
to  her  husband,  was  called  to  the  home  beyond. 
Mr.  Uptmor  is  still  living  in  Teutopolis,  an  hon- 
ored citizen  of  this  community. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  in 
his  parents'  home  and  entered  upon  his  business 
career  in  his  father's  store  and  office  immediately 
after  leaving  school.  He  also  served  as  Deputy 
Postmaster  under  his  father  for  twenty-one  years. 
In  1863  he  was  admitted  to  a  partnership  in  the 
business,  and  the  connection  has  since  continued 
with  mutual  benefit  and  profit. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1869,  Mr.  Uptmor  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Bernardina  Sut- 
kamp,  a  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Bernardina 
(Gravenhorst)  Sutkamp.  The  lady  was  born  in 
the  Duchy  of  Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  came  to 
America  with  her  parents  when  a  maiden  of  thir- 
teen years.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  has  been  born  a  family  of  five  children,  a  son 
and  four  daughters,  as  follows:  Mary  B.,  now  the 
wife  of  John  H.  Engbring,  a  resident  of  Teutopo- 
lis; Catherine,  Theresa,  Rosa  Helena  and  Clement. 
The  family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken,  and  the 
four  younger  children  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof. 

In  1859  Mr.  Uptmor  embarked  in  the  pork- 
packing  business,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
He  has  met  with  good  success  in  this  undertaking 
and  packs  from  seven  hundred  to  fifteen  hundred 
head  of  hogs  annually.  Another  industry  with 
which  he  is  connected  is  that  of  the  Hope  Mills, 
of  Teutopolis,  which  are  -operated  by  the  firm  of 
Uptrnor  &  Siemer.  The  mill  was  built  and  began 
operations  in  1882.  The  structure,  which  is  of  brick 
and  stone,  is  furnished  witli  a  roller  process,  and 
the  machinery  is  operated  by  steam.  In  fact,  it  is 
complete  in  all  its  appointments  and  turns  out  a 
fine  quality  of  flour,  the  capacity  being  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  barrels  daily.  Mr.  Uptmor 
is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability.  He  is  en- 
terprising and  energetic,  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
and  thoroughly  knows  his  business  in  all  its  de- 
tails. His  well-directed  efforts  in  the  legitimate 
lines  of  trade  have  won  for  him  a  deserved  success 


and  made  of  him  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  his 
native  county.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Uptmor  is  a 
supporter  of  Democratic  principles  but  has  always 
eschewed  public  office,  having  served  only  in  the 
position  of  School  Director. 


5OWNSEND  H.  ROWLAND,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  in  Olney,  has  for  many 
years  been  a  resident  of  this  city,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Rich- 
land  County, dating  his  residence  here  from  1840. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  on  Long  Island,  September  6,  1805. 
He  is  of  English  descent  and  is  a  son  of  John 
Rowland.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  spent  in  his  native  State,  and  in  early  life  he 
learned  the  tailor's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  fact  he  carried  on  that  line 
of  business  until  his  removal  Westward  in  1840. 

Before  leaving  the  East  Mr.  Rowland  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Sands,  only  daughter  of  Richard 
Sands,  and  a  native  of  New  York.  They  became 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  six  sous  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years.  The 
eldest  is  Dr.  Elbert;  Richard  died  in  July,  1889; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  Julian  Taylor,  of  Prince- 
ton, Ind.;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  Bell,  of 
Hopetown,  Ind.;  Theresa  married  Capt.  J.  I.  Judy 
and  they  make  their  home  in  Lawrenceville,  111.; 
Lydia  became  the  wife  of  G.  F.  Cinter,  of  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  and  died  in  the  spring  of  1892;  Eliza 
is  the  wife  of  Marion  Gaddy,  of  Bonpas  Town- 
ship, Richland  County;  William  H.  married  Ann 
Gaddy  and  makes  his  home  in  St.  Louis;  Seth  D. 
is  a  lawyer  engaged  in  practice  in  Francisville, 
111.;  and  Ann  is  the  wife  of  E.  S.  Wilson,  ex-State 
Treasurer  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Rowland  continued  to  engage  in  the  tailor- 
ing business  in  New  York  until  1840,  when  he  de- 
cided to  seek  a  home  and  fortune  in  the  West,  and 
came  to  Uichlaud  County,  III.,  and  here  settled. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


341 


In  the  year  1865,  he  removed  to  Olney,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  For  many  years  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  was  very  successful  in 
that  line  of  business,  but  now  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
seven  j-ears  he  is  living  a  retired  life.  In  1875, 
he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
who  died  on  the  17th  of  November. 

In  politics  Mr.  Rowland  is  a  Democrat,  having 
supported  the  principles  of  that  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  Presidential  ballot  for  Gen.  Jackson. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  for  several  years, 
and  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for 
three  years.  While  in  New  York  he  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  to  examine 
the  cadets  at  West  Point,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons,  of  Evansville,  111.  Before  the 
war  he  was  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  militia  of 
New  York.  Mr.  Rowland  is  a  self-made  man. 
Since  an  early  age  he  has  been  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources,  and  the  success  of  his  life  has 
all  been  achieved  through  his  own  efforts.  As  be- 
fore stated,  he  is  numbered  among  the  honored 
pioneers  of  the  count3',  having  been  identified 
with  its  histoiy  for  more  than  half  a  century.  He 
came  here  when  it  was  almost  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness and  has  seen  its  great  development  and  ad- 
vancement. 


TIMOTHY  H.  HUTCHINSON,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Hutchinson  &  Hutchin- 
son,  attorneys-at-law  of  Olney,  is  one  of 
the  leading  members  of  the  Richland  County 
Bar.  He  possesses  fine  natural  ability  and  has 
closely  applied  himself  to  become  perfectly  fa- 
miliar with  his  profession.  His  studiousness, 
therefore,  combined  with  the  gifts  of  nature, 
has  made  him  one  of  the  ablest  legal  practitioners 
of  this  community.  His  life  recovd  is  as  follows: 
He  was  born  in  Albany,  Oxford  County,  Me., 
November  21,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Galen  and 
Olive  (Flint)  Hutchinson.  His  father  was  born  in 


the  same  county  in  1800,  and  was  of  English  de- 
scent, as  was  the  mother,  whose  birth  also  occurred 
in  Oxford  County.  Galen  Hutchinson  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  lived  and  died  in  the 
Pine  Tree  State,  but  his  wife  spent  her  last  days 
in  New  Hampshire. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home 
until  about  nineteen  years  of  age.  For  a  time  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  and  also  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade.  His  primary  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools,  after  which  he  at- 
tended Urbana  University  of  Ohio,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  in  the  Class  of  '60. 
Having  determined  to  enter  the  legal  profession, 
he  studied  law  in  Cleveland  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  Ohio  in  1861.  The  following  year  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Louisville,  where  he  remained 
until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Olney,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home. 

On  the  13th  of  April,  1861,  in  Bellefontaine, 
Ohio,  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Anna  L.  Canby,  daughter  of  Hon.  Richard  S. 
Canby,  now  of  Olney.  The  lady  is  a  native  of 
Bellefontaine,  Ohio.  Four  children  have  been 
born  of  their  union,  three  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Richard  S.  C.  is  a  court  reporter  and  resides  in 
Knoxville,  Tenn.;  Park  S.  was  educated  at  the 
Olney  High  School,  studied  law  with  his  father, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  August  27,  1891; 
Frank  is  now  in  the  office  of  the  Ohio  &  Missis- 
sippi Railroad  learning  bridge-building;  and  Ethel 
completes  the  family. 

On  coming  to  Olney,  Mr.  Hutchinson  formed  a 
partnership  with  E.  S.  Wilson,  succeeding  his 
father-in-law,  who  had  just  been  elected  to  the 
Circuit  Bench  as  Mr.  Wilson's  partner.  His  con- 
nection with  Mr.  Wilson  continued  up  to  1890, 
when  the  latter  was  elected  State  Treasurer  of 
Illinois.  In  1892,  his  son  Park  S.  joined  his 
father  in  business,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hutchinsou  &  Hutchinson  are  now  engaged  in 
practice.  This  firm  has  a  wide  reputation,  which 
is  well  merited,  and  they  enjoy  a  liberal  share  of 
the  public  patronage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hutchinson  are  members  of  the 
Swedenborgian  Church.  He  is  a  Republican  in 


342 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


politics  and  takes  considerable  interest  in  public 
affairs.  Our  subject  owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  lying  adjacent  to  the  city, 
and  his  wife  has  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
These  tracts  are  largely  utilized  as  orchards,  ten 
thousand  apple  trees  having  been  set  out  on  the 
two  farms.  There  are  also  about  two  thousand 
peach  trees.  Mr.  Hutchinson  believes  this  com- 
munit3r  will  become  one  of  the  finest  fruit-bearing 
regions  of  the  country,  and  has  therefore  largely 
planted  his  land  in  apples. 


ATTHEW  LOVEL  TIPPIT,  deceased,  was 
a  pioneer  of  southern  Illinoisof  1820,and 
came  to  what  is  now  Richland  County 
about  1830.  He  was  therefore  one  of  its 
earliest  settlers.  He  was  born  in  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.,  February  22,  1817,  and  was  a  son  of  Luke 
and  Nancy  (Adamson)  Tippit,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  same  State.  In  1820,  when  our  sub- 
ject was  only  three  years  of  age,  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  took  up  their  residence  in 
Edwards  County.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  died  when  Matthew  L.  was  about 
nine  years  of  age.  A  short  time  afterward  our 
subject,  accompanied  by  his  mother,  removed  to 
what  is  now  the  city  of  Olney,  then  in  Lawrence 
County,  and  settled  upon  a  farm.  This  farm  af- 
terward became  his  property  and  is  now  the  home 
of  Mrs.  Matthew  L.  Tippit. 

Our  subject  enjoyed  but  limited  opportunities 
for  education,  as  the  old  log  schoolhouses  of  pio- 
neer days  were  the  only  institutions  of  learning 
known  to  the  frontier  people.  Matthew  L.  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  adopted  that 
for  a  vocation.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on 
life's  journey  he  chose  Mrs.  Grimes,  widow  of 
Stephen  Grimes,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Tippit  to  Mrs.  Grimes  was 
celebrated  on  the  29th  of  January,  1839,  in  what 
is  now  Richland  County,  111.  Mrs.  Tippit,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  Ellingsworth,  was  born 


in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  December  8,  1815,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Sarah  (Verden)  El- 
lingsworth. Her  parents  were  from  Delaware, 
from  which  State  they  removed  Westward  to  In- 
diana, and  later  became  residents  of  Butler 
County,  Ohio,  whence  they  came  to  what  is  now 
Richland  County,  111.,  in  1837,  settling  on  the 
present  site  of  Olney.  By  her  former  marriage 
Mrs.  Tippit  had  one  son,  Jasper  Grimes,  who 
married  Jane  Cunningham  and  is  living  in  Mis- 
souri. Of  the  family  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tippit 
three  are  living  at  this  writing,  in  the  spring  of 
1893.  William  was  united  in  marriage  with  Nancy 
Youngman  and  is  a  farmer  of  Preston,  Richland 
County.  Luke  was  married,  and  died  in  1888. 
Henry  Clay  was  married,  and  died  in  1883.  Julia 
is  the  wife  of  Christian  Giesler  and  resides  on  the 
old  -homestead.  Albert  was  married,  and  died 
April  14,  1879.  Thomas  mariied  Miss  Eva  Leaf 
and  is  a  farmer  of  Olney.  Flora,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 

Mr.  Tippit  was  an  industrious,  upright  man,  and 
by  his  energy  and  well-directed  efforts  he  accum- 
ulated a  large  landed  property.  At  one  time  he 
owned  about  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  had  some  seven  hundred 
acres  in  improved  farms,  the  most  of  which  he  be- 
queathed to  his  children.  His  widow  still  owns 
about  seventy  acres  and  the  old  homestead,  in 
which  she  is  now  living.  Mr.  Tippit  passed  away 
September  13,  1871,  and  in  his  death  the  county 
lost  one  of  its  honored  pioneers  and  a  valued  cit- 
izen. 


ICHARD  H.  VANDERHOOF  is  a  well- 
known  business  man  of  Newton,  who  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  this  county.  With 
his  brother,  G.  V.,  he  forms  the  firm  of  G. 
V.  <fe  R.  H.  Vanderhoof,  dealers  in  agricultural 
implements  of  Newton,  111.  He  is  also  a  grower  of 
and  dealer  in  Vanderhoof's  Ivory  Dent  Corn  for 
seed,  and  a  breeder  of  pure-blooded  Poland-China 
hogs.  His  business  relations  have  brought  him  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


343 


contact  with  many,  and  by  his  wide  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances lie  is  held  in  high  esteem  as  a  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity. 

Mr.  Vanderhoof  was  born  in  St.  Marie,  Jasper 
County,  August  13.  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  Vanderhoof,  who  were  among  the  ear- 
liest settlers  of  this  county.  A  sketch  of  the  father 
is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  subject  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  count3'.  In  the  spring  of 
1864,  he,  however,  left  the  farm  and  went  to  the 
aid  of  his  country,  enlisting  for  the  late  war  in 
Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fort3'-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  among  the  three-months  men.  He 
served,  however,  for  live  months,  and  on  being 
discharged  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
enlisted  in  February,  1865,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Fifty-fifth  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry. 
He  was  appointed  Corporal  and  served  until  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out. 

On  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Vanderhoof 
engaged  in  farming  and  school  teaching,  being  em- 
ployed on  a  farm  in  the  summer  and  in  the  school 
in  the  winter.  On  the  24th  of  December,  1870, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  in  Newton  with  Miss 
Eliza  Adams,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter 
of  William  Adams.  Three  children,  all  sons, 
graced  their  union:  Edwin  H.,  Fuller  E.  and  Gus- 
tin,  but  the  last-named  died  in  infancy.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  May,  1876,  and  on 
the  22d  of  October  following,  Mr.  Vanderhoof 
was  again  married,  near  Newton,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Beach.  She  was  born 
in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Asa  Beach. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  won  an  enviable 
reputation  as  the  originator  of  the  famous  Vander- 
hoof Ivory  Dent  Corn,  which  has  gained  the  first 
premium  at  county  fairs  for  fifteen  years,  and  the 
first  premium  and  sweepstakes  at  the  Illinois  State 
Fair  in  1889,  in  competition  with  fifteen  entries  in 
the  class  and  seventeen  in  sweepstakes.  He  en- 
tered his  corn  at  the  World's  Fair  in  Paris  in  1889, 
and  won  the  grand  prize  for  the  same  in  competi- 
tion with  sixty-seven  exhibitors.  He  grows  seed 
corn  of  this  variety  and  supplies  the  market  over  a 
wide  range  of  country.  He  is  also  extensively  en- 


gaged in  breeding  pure-blooded  Poland-China  pigs 
for  stock  purposes,  having  nothing  but  registered 
stock  of  the  finest  kind.  Mr.  Vanderhoof  has 
a  fine  farm  of  forty  acres,  and  ninety  acres  in 
Wade  Township,  which  are  operated  under  his 
personal  management.  Another  business  interest 
which  occupies  his  attention  is  his  store  in  New- 
ton. In  the  spring  of  1892  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  G.  V.,  and  since  that  time 
they  have  dealt  in  farm  implements. 

Mr.  Vanderhoof  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  is  a  stockholder  of 
the  Jasper  County  Joint  Stock  Company,  of  which 
he  is  Secretary;  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Newton 
County  Fire  and  Lightning  Insurance  Company, 
which  was  organized  in  1890.  He  has  been  Secre- 
tary of  that  company  since  its  organization.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  in  his  religious 
views  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church.  His  wife  holds  membership  with  the  old- 
school  Presbyterian  Church. 


APT.  SAMUEL  JARRETT,  who  carries  on 
general  farming  on  section  31,  Granville 
Township,  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the  late 
war  and  his  army  record  is  one  of  which  he  may 
well  be  proud.  He  was  an  able  and  valiant  de- 
fender of  the  old  Stars  and  Stripes,  which  now 
float  so  proudly  over  the  united  Nation,  and  as 
one  of  the  brave  boys  in  blue  we  gladty  give  him 
a  place  in  this  history. 

Capt.  Jarrett  was  born  in  Meade  County,  Ky. 
March  1,  1837.  His  father,  Wilson  Jarrett,  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  married  Catherine  Dowell. 
They  became  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom 
Betsy,  Molly,  William  II.,  Francis  and  Emily  are 
now  deceased.  Those  living  are  Samuel;  John,  a 
veteran  of  the  late  war  and  a  United  States  claim 
agent,  living  in  Kentucky;  Junius,  who  also  was  a 
soldier;  Louisa,  wife  of  Elias  Smith,  a  general 
merchant  of  Kentucky;  and  James,  who  is  engaged 


344 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  hotel-keeping  in  that  State.  There  were  five 
brothers  in  the  Jarrett  family  and  four  of  the 
number  aided  in  the  struggle  to  preserve  the 
Union.  The  father  engaged  in  merchandising 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  died 
August  29,  1881,  and  his  wife's  death  occurred 
in  1862. 

Capt.  Jarrett  lived  upon  the  farm  until  his  sev- 
enteenth year,  and  then  removed  to  Stephensport, 
Ky.,  where  he  began  working  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  connection  with  boat- 
building until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion 
in  1861.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K, 
Third  Kentucky  Cavalry,  and  was  mustered  into 
service  in  Calhoun,  Ky.  He  remained  with  that 
regiment  for  about  two  years,  and  then  raised  a 
company  for  the  Forty-eighth  Kentucky  Mounted 
Infantry,  which  was  mustered  in  as  Company  K, 
and  of  which  he  was  commissioned  Captain.  The 
next  day  he  took  part  in  his  first  engagement. 
He  led  his  troops  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Perryville,  Stone  River  and  Hopkinsville,  and 
many  more  engagements  of  lesser  importance. 
He  carries  three  scars  as  the  result  of  a  buckshot 
wound.  In  1865,  he  was  detailed  with  two  com- 
panies under  his  command  to  fight  the  bush- 
whackers, and  encountered  in  several  engagements 
the  troops  of  Taylor,  Wheeler  and  Forrest.  While 
stationed  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  he  received  his 
discharge,  December  17,  1865. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  serv- 
ices, Capt.  Jarrett  returned  home,  but  as  soon  as  he 
could  make  arrangements  to  do  so,  he  brought  his 
family  to  Jasper  County,  111.,  and  located  on  the 
farm  in  Granville  Township  which  is  yet  his  home. 
It  was  then  an  unimproved  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  only  a  very  small  portion  having 
been  placed  under  the  plow,  while  the  log  cabin  con- 
stituted the  only  building.  With  characteristic 
energy,  he  began  its  development  and  soon  the  wild 
tract  was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  In 
connection  with  general  farming,  he  is  now 
engaged  in  stock-raising  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
the  breeding  of  Percheron  horses.  He  has  been 
quite  successful  in  this  line  of  business  and  has 
some  fine  stock  upon  his  farm. 

The  Captain  lias  been    twice    married.     On    the 


8th  of  July,  1862,  he  wedded  Martha,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Grant,  and  unto  them  were  born  three 
children,  Georgia  L.,  Edith  and  Maggie.  The 
mother  died  September  7,  1872,  and  Mr.  Jarrett 
was  again  married,  December  2,  1875,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Caroline  Watt,  daughter  of 
Fideller  and  Henrietta  (Capps)  Watt,  natives  of 
Warren  County,  Ky.  Of  the  five  children  born 
of  their  union,  the  eldest  died  in  infancy,  and 
Finley  H.  and  Maud  are  also  deceased.  Clyde 
and  Xellie  are  still  at  home. 

Capt.  Jarrett  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  and  the  Grand  Army 
post,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of 
the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  energies  to  his 
business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met  witli  good 
success.  His  possessions  have  all  been  acquired 
through  his  own  efforts,  and  he  may  truly  be 
called  a  self-made  man.  With  the  same  fidelity 
with  which  he  served  his  country  in  her  hour  of 
need,  he  discharges  his  duties  of  citizenship,  and 
is  therefore  an  important  factor  in  this  com- 
munity. 


OHN  GLATHART,  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Olney  Township,  residing  on  section  19,  is 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neer families  of  Richland  County,  where 
for  almost  fifty  years  he  has  made  his  home.  In 
this  half-century  he  has  witnessed  the  greater 
part  of  the  growth  and  development  of  the  county, 
has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into  beautiful 
homes  and  farms,  its  log  cabins  replaced  by  sub- 
stantial modern  residences,  and  the  work  of  prog- 
ress carried  forward  to  such  an  extent  that  the 
county  of  to-day  bears  little  resemblance  to  that 
of  fifty  years  ago,  few  of  the  old  landmarks  yet 
remaining. 

Our  subject  was  born  near   Berne,  Switzerland, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


345 


March  30,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Cather- 
ine Glathart,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  coun- 
try, and  were  there  married.  The  father  followed 
farming  in  the  land  of  bis  birth  until  1829,  when 
he  emigrated  witli  his  family  to  the  New  World 
and  located  on  a  farm  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio. 
In  1845  he  came  to  Riehland  County,  and  upon 
land  which  he  entered  from  the  Government  made 
his  home  until  called  to  his  final  rest  at  the  age 
of  sixty-three  years.  A  few  years  later  his  wife 
was  laid  by  his  side  in  the  German  graveyard, 
where  a  substantial  monument  has  been  erected 
to  their  memory. 

In  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  seven  sons  and 
six  daughters,  John  Glathart  was  the  third  in 
order  of  birth.  He  was  only  about  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  crossed  the  water.  He  was  reared  upon 
the  old  farm  in  Ohio  until  seventeen,  when  he  ac- 
companied the  family  to  Illinois.  He  gave  his 
father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  when  he  started  out  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world  without  capital  or 
other  aid  save  an  industrious  disposition  and  a 
determination  to  succeed.  He  worked  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  for  about  four  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  lie  had  saved  enough  to  enter 
eighty  acres  of  Government  land.  This  tract  was 
covered  witli  heavy  timber,  but  soon  his  axe  awak- 
ened the  echoes  of  the  forest  as  one  after  another 
he  felled  the  trees  and  made  the  ground  ready 
for  planting.  His  labors  have  wrought  a  wonder- 
ful change  in  the  appearance  of  his  property.  He 
now  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  improved  with  all  modern  acces- 
sories and  conveniences,  with  a  good  house  and 
barn  and  well-tilled  fields.  He  has  also  given  to 
each  of  his  sons  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land.  In 
his  political  views  Mr.  Glathart  is  a  Republican, 
and  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party. 
He  has  served  as  Township  Commissioner  of 
Highways  for  three  years,  and  has  filled  the  office 
of  School  Director  for  about  ten  years.  The  cause 
of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and  lie 
has  done  effective  service  in  its  interest.  A  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive  citizen,  he  ever  labors 
for  the  advancement  of  the  public  welfare. 

In    1852   was   celebrated    the    marriage   of  Mr. 


Glathart  and  Miss  Anna  Stahley.  She  was  born 
Julj'25,  1828,  in  the  canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  (Cebaugh) 
Stahley,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  country. 
They  crossed  the  briny  deep  in  1842,  and,  making 
their  way  to  Riohland  County,  111.,  purchased  an 
improTed  farm,  upon  which  they  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  their  lives.  The  father  died  August 
3,  1865,  aged  sixty-two  years,  and  the  death  of 
his  wife  occurred  September  21,  1872.  Six  chil- 
dren graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glathart, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters.  John  F.,  the  eld- 
est, is  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Catherine  V.  is  the 
wife  of  R.  T.  Fry,  the  present  efficient  Postmaster 
of  Olney,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Lucinda  is  the  wife  of  Wickliff  Higgins,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Riehland  County;  William  E. 
is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  this  community;  Mary  E. 
is  the  wife  of  Milton  Graves,  an  agriculturist  of 
this  county;  and  Thomas  died  in  early  childhood. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church.  Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality, 
and  they  are  numbered  among  the  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Olney  Township. 


J~l  OSEPH  LITZELMANN  is  the  proprietor  of 
j    the  American    House,  of   Newton,   Jasper 
I    County,  and  is  one  of  the  most   prominent 
'    and  influential  citizens  of  this  community. 

He  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  promoting  the  best 
interests  of  this  his  native  county,  and  wherever 
he  is  known  he  is  held  in  high  regard  as  a  man  of 
sterling  worth.  He  well  deserves  representation 
in  this  volume.  His  birth  occurred  at  St.  Marie, 
on  the  28th  of  March,  1849.  His  parents,  Joseph 
and  Barbara  (Ostheimer)  Litzelmann,  are  num- 
bered among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Jasper  County 
and  are  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  came  with  his  parents  to  Newton  in 
1855,  when  but  five  years  of  age,  acquiring  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  this  place,  and  when 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


old  enough  to  be  of  service  he  aided  his  father, 
who  was  then  landlord  of  the  American  House.  No 
event  of  special  importance  occurred  during  his 
boyhood,  but  after  attaining  to  years  of  maturity 
he  was  married  on  the  28th  of  November,  1871,  to 
Miss  Sarah  Frances  Thompson.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  in  this  place.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Macon  County,  Mo.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
Thompson.  She  came  to  Newton,  however,  from 
Brownsville,  Tenn.  By  the  union  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife  were  born  ten  children,  of  whom  seven 
are  now  living,  the  other  three  having  died  in 
infancy.  Those  who  still  survive  are  St.  Clair, 
Charleane,  Nellie,  Helene,  Joseph,  Harry  and 
Maurice. 

Mr.  Litzelmann  was  reared  as  a  Catholic  and  is 
now  a  member  of  St.  Thomas  Church.  By  his  bal- 
lot he  supports  the  Democratic  party  and  warmly 
advocates  its  principles.  A  number  of  public 
offices  have  been  filled  by  him  with  credit  to  him- 
self and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  for  ten  years,  as  Alder- 
man for  eight  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  second 
term  as  Mayor  of  Newton.  In  April,  1889,  he  was 
first  elected  to  that  office  fora  term  of  two  years, 
and  with  such  promptness  did  he  discharge  his 
duties  that  ho  was  re-elected  in  April,  1891,  With 
such  a  man  as  Mr.  Litzelmann  at  the  bead,  the 
interests  of  Newton  will  never  suffer.  He  dis- 
played his  loyalty  to  the  country  during  the  late 
war  by  enlisting  on  the  4th  of  May,  1864,  as  a 
member  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  for  the  one  hundred  days' 
service.  He  served  in  the  Western  Army  for  five 
months  and  was  on  duty  in  Tennessee,  Mississippi 
and  Arkansas,  guarding  bridges  and  doing  garri- 
son duty.  He  received  his  discharge  in  Mattoon, 
111.,  in  1864. 

Mr.  Litzelmann  inherited  the  American  House 
and  succeeded  his  father  as  its  proprietor.  Since 
coming  into  possession  of  the  same  he  has  enlarged 
and  improved  it  and  has  made  it  the  best  hotel  in 
Jasper  County.  It  contains  sleeping  rooms  and 
sample  rooms,  and  is  a  most  convenient  and  com- 
fortable hotel,  being  conducted  successfully  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  traveling  public.  Our 
subject  is  a  thorough  business  man  and  has 


accumulated  a  valuable  property.  Besides  his 
hotel  lie  is  the  owner  of  six  business  houses  on  the 
square,  three  brick  structures  on  the  east  side  and 
three  wooden  buildings  on  the  north  side.  All  are 
leased  and  are  producing  good  interest  on  the  in- 
vestment. He  also  owns  one  hundred  and  eighty-- 
one acres  of  land  in  Jasper  County,  ninety -six  acres 
of  which  are  located  in  Willow  Hill  Township  and 
the  remainder  in  Newton  Township.  Mr.  Litzel- 
mann is  recognized  as  one  of  the  wealthiest  and 
most  influential  citizens  of  Newton  and  is  highly 
respected.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
county,  and  it  has  been  one  of  such  uprightness 
that  he  has  gained  universal  confidence. 


ON.  THEODORE  A.  FRITCHEY,  County 
Judge  of  Richland  County,  and  the  junior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Allen  &  Frit- 
chey  was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
Ohio,  near  Dayton,  April  24,  1855,  and  is  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren. His  parents,  Benjamin  F.  and  Elizabeth 
(McQueeney)  Fritchey,  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  Fritchey  family  is  of  German  de- 
scent and  was  founded  in  America  by  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  Godfrey  Fritchey,  who  emi- 
grated from  Saxony  to  this  country  in  1775,  and 
settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  the  record  shows 
that  he  was  naturalized  in  the  historical  year  of 
1776. 

Benjamin  Fritchey  was  reared,  educated  and 
married  in  his  native  State.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  McQueeney,  was 
also  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent. In  early  life  Mr.  Fritchey  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  where  he  continued 
for  several  years.  Emigrating  Westward,  he  locat- 
ed in  Illinois,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Peoria, 
but  after  two  years  spent  in  that  place  he  returned 
to  Pennsylvania.  He  next  moved  to  Baltimore, 
Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  where  for  several 
years  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


347 


Subsequently  he  went  to  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  made  his  home  for  ten  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Montgomery  County,  of  the 
same  State,  and  later  came  from  there  to  Olney, 
111.,  accompanied  by  his  family.  This  was  in  the 
year  1871.  Here  he  engaged  in  merchandising 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April,  1876.  He 
was  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  good  wife,  who 
survives  her  husband,  is  a  member  of  the  same 
church  and  is  still  a  resident  of  Olney. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Olney  with 
his>  parents  in  187J.  He  began  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  the  Buckeye  State  and  completed 
it  in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  years  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
cousin,  G.  W.  Fritchey,  in  the  grocery  business, 
which  connection  continued  for  a  year  and  a- 
half,  when  he  retired  from  the  firm,  having  de- 
termined to  enter  the  legal  profession.  He  began 
the  study  of  law  with  Wilson  &  Hutchinson,  a 
leading  law  firm  of  Olney,  and  after  thorough 
preparation  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1880. 
He  at  once  began  practicing  in  Olney,  and  in 
June,  1881,  formed  the  existing  partnership  with 
Judge  J.  C.  Allen. 

In  his  political  views,  Judge  Fritchey  is  a  sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles,  and  has  held  vari- 
ous official  positions.  In  April,  1876,  he  was 
elected  City  Clerk  and  served  four  years  in  that 
office.  In  1881,  he  was  chosen  City  Attorney  and 
served  one  term.  In  1886,  he  was  elected  County 
Judge,  was  re-elected  in  1890,  and  is  now  serving 
his  second  term  in  that  position.  In  the  spring 
of  1880,  he  purchased  the  Olney  Jlepublican,  which 
he  edited  for  several  years.  In  company  with  his 
younger  brother,  Daniel,  he  still  owns  the  office, 
while  Daniel  Fritchey  is  now  editor  and  manager 
of  the  paper. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1889,  Judge  Fritchey 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Urbana,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Mary  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Bucher.  The 
lad}-  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  her  birth 
having  occurred  near  Dayton.  They  have  two 
children,  sons,  Paul  Bucher  and  Theodore  Augus- 
tus. The  Judge  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Socially,  he  is  a 


Knight-Templar  Mason,  a  member  of  Olney 
Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &A.  M.;  of  Richland  Chap- 
ter No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  of  Gorin  Commandery  No.  14 
K.  T.;  and  of  Salem  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 

Judge  Fritchey  is  one  of  a  number  of  Richland 
County  people  who  are  interested  in  fruit  culture, 
and  who  have  great  faith  in  Richland  County  be- 
coming in  a  few  years  a  noted  apple-growing  re- 
gion. Experience  of  many  years  has  demonstrated 
the  adaptability  of  soil  and  climate  to  fruit-grow- 
ing, and  especially  to  the  growth  of  apples,  in  which 
there  is  nearly  always  a  good  crop.  The  Judge 
has  forty  acres  near  Olney  set  out  in  Ben  Davis 
apples  and  fifteen  acres  in  peaches.  The  trees  are 
thrifty  and  will  soon  be  in  bearing.  He  is  also  in- 
terested in  the  Olney  Canning  and  Evaporating 
Company,  which  was  organized  in  1889.  A  sketch 
of  this  industry  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

The  Judge  has  been  an  active  member  of  the 
Republican  party  for  years,  has  been  Chairman  of 
the  Richland  County  Central  Committee,  and  has 
done  much  effective  work  in  conventions  and  on 
the  stump.  In  his  official  capacity  he  has  proved 
capable,  faithful  and  efficient,  and  enjoys  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  a 
marked  degree.  As  a  lawyer,  he  is  studious, 
painstaking  and  thorough  in  the  preparation  of 
cases,  and  is  sagacious  and  strong  in  their  presen- 
tation and  management.  As  an  advocate  he  is 
the  peer  of  any  of  the  Richland  County  Bar  and 
has  won  marked  success  in  his  profession. 


****** 
?**** 


ON.  WILLIAM  BOWER,  the  pioneer  drug- 
|  gist  of  Olney,  is  a  native-born  citizen  of 
this  place,  and  a  son  of  Philip  Peter  and 
Mary  (Dundore)  Bower,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  subject  is  the 
second  male  white  child  born  within  the  limits  of 
this  city,  the  date  of  his  birth  being  May  21,  1842. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  village  and  in  Olney  Seminary.  In 
1857  his  mother  died  and  soon  thereafter  he  left 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home,  beginning  -life  for  himself.  Having  ac- 
quired a  fair  education,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school.  Later  he  served  a  regular  apprenticeship 
to  the  tinner's  trade  with  K.  D.  Horrall,  of  Olney, 
working  for  $3,  $4  or  $5  per  month. 

Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  apprentice- 
ship, Mr.  Bower  enlisted  for  the  late  war  on  the 
14th  of  April,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Company  B, 
Eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  responded  to  Lin- 
coln's first  call  for  three  months'  troops  to  defend 
the  Union,  and  enlisted  on  the  first  day  that  en- 
listments were  made  for  the  late  war.  Col.  Ogles- 
by,  afterward  Governor  of  Illinois,  was  the  com- 
mander of  his  regiment.  He  served  the  term  of 
his  enlistment,  after  which  he  returned  home 
and  taught  school  and  worked  at  his  trade  until 
the  spring  of  1863,  when  he  joined  Charles  Shultz 
as  sutler  clerk  and  went  to  the  front.  He  was 
captured  in  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  but  was  held 
prisoner  only  a  few  days,  when  he  was  paroled 
and  sent  North. 

In  October,  1863,  Mr.  Bower  bought  a  stock  of 
tinware  and  carried  on  this  business  until  Decem- 
ber following,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  with  Dr.  E.  W.  Ridgway.  Fifteen 
months  later  he  purchased  his  partner's  interest  and 
has  since  continued  the  business  alone  with  marked 
success.  He  is  now  the  oldest  druggist  in  years  of 
continuous  trade  in  Richland  County,  and  the  sec- 
ond eldest  business  man  in  years  of  uninterrupted 
dealing  in  Olney. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  1865,  in  Olney,  Mr. 
Bower  was  married  to  Miss  Sara  E.  Ridgway,  who 
was  born  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  E.  W.  Ridgway.  Four  children  were  born  of 
their  union,  but  only  two  are  now  living:  CatteWa, 
now  the  wife  of  M.  E.  Sebree,  a  train  dispatcher, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Denver,  Colo.;  and  Ernest 
Zelledon,  who  is  with  his  father  in  the  store. 
Emma  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  and  Nina 
when  two  years  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bower  are  members  of  the  New,  or 
Swedenborgian,  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority  from  the 
Forty -fourth  District  as  Representative  to  the  Thir- 
ty-first Illinois  General  Assembly,  where  lie  served 
on  the  committee  of  education,  printing  and  mil- 


itia. He  also  originated  some  important  measures 
and  proved  an  industrious  and  useful  member. 
Socially,  Mr.  Bower  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  and 
Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.  He  also  be- 
longs to  Richland  Lodge  No.  180, 1.  O.  O.  F.;  and 
Olney  Lodge  No.  76,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Bower  has  a  one  hundred  acre  orchard,  sixty 
acres  of  which  are  a  mile  and  a-half  north  of  the 
city  and  forty  acres  about  the  same  distance  south- 
ward, all  planted  in  apples.  The  trees  in  the  north 
lot  are  two  years  old,  and  those  in  the  south  are 
three.  All  the  trees  are  thrifty  and  will  soon  bear. 
Both  orchards  are  set  out  with  Ben  Davis  apples, 
those  promising  the  most  profitable  crop.  Mr. 
Bower  also  owns  his  store  building,  which  is  built 
of  stone,  is  two  stories  high  and  is  23x140  feet 
on  the  ground  floor.  Hecarriesa  stock  from  $15,- 
000  to  $18,000,  and  does  considerable  jobbing, 
keeping  traveling  salesmen  on  the  road  all  the 
time.  His  stock  consists  of  a  full  line  of  drugs 
and  medicines,  paints  and  oils,  wall  paper,  books 
and  fancy  goods.  By  judicious  management  and 
fair  dealing,  Mr.  Bower  has  built  up  an  extensive, 
still  increasing  business,  and  has  accumulated  a 
valuable  property.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  successful  business  men 
of  Olney,  and  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected  by 
his  fellow-citizens  and  by  all  with  whom  he  has 
business  or  social  relations. 


ON.  JAMES  E.  WHARF,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Olney,  is  at  this  writing  serving  his 
third  term  as  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  was 
first  elected  to  the  office  in  1887,  to  suc- 
ceed David  Scott;  again  in  1891,  after  an  inter- 
vening term,  to  succeed  Frank  Powers,  and  again 
in  1893  to  succeed  himself.  Mr.  Wharf  belongs  to 
one  of  the  earlier  families  of  Richland  County  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  Olney  since  1857.  He  was  born 
in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  in  1854, and  isasonof 
James  W.  Wharf.  The  father  was  a  native  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


England,  but  when  a  small  lad  of  only  five  years 
his  father,  William  Wharf,  emigrated  with  his  fam- 
ily to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Fayette 
County,  Pa.  During  their  residence  there  they 
were  neighbors  of  the  family  of  the  late  James  G. 
Blaine,  who  was  then  but  a  boy. 

There  James  W.  Wharf  grew  to  manhood  and 
married  Mary  Willis;  later  he  settled  in  Coshoeton 
County,  Ohio,  removing  from  there  to  Olney  in 
1857.  The  family  consisted  of  the  parents  and  four 
children,  and  another  was  added  to  the  number 
after  the  removal  to  Richland  County.  A  daugh- 
ter, Emma,  died  in  Olney,  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
The  other  children  of  the  family  were  James  E., 
whose  name  heads  this  record;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Allison 
and  William  and  Edward  L.  Wharf;  all  are  still 
residents  of  Olney.  The  father,  James  W.  Wharf, 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business  in  this  city  as 
early  as  1865.  When  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
James  E.,  our  subject,  began  assisting  his  father 
in  business  and  later  was  associated  with  him  as 
a  partner.  That  work  he  lias  followed  through- 
out his  entire  life,  being  still  engaged  in  general 
insurance,  representing  most  of  the  leading  com- 
panies of  the  country.  The  father  also  still  con- 
tinues in  the  business,  being  now  engaged  as  trav- 
eling solicitor. 

In  1875,  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Adelia  Allison, daughter  of  Clinton  J.  Allison, 
an  early  and  well-known  citizen.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  a  family  of  three  children,  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  namely:  Allison  J.,  Eugene 
C.  and  Edna  T.  The  parents  hold  an  enviable 
position  in  social  circles  and  their  home  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Wharf  is  a  Republi- 
can, having  affiliated  with  that  party  since  he  be- 
came a  voter.  During  his  Mayoralty  many  im- 
portant public  improvements  have  been  made. 
During  his  first  term  preparations  were  made  for 
the  holding  of  the  State  Fair  in  Olney,  and  the  suc- 
cess attending  the  same  was  due  in  no  small  de- 
gree to  his  labors  in  the  capacity  of  Mayor.  In 
1892,  during  his  second  term,  the  public  improve- 
ments of  the  city  cost  about  $40,000,  the  chief  of 
which  is  the  tvater  works,  which  has  proved  a  most 
important  acquisition  to  the  city. 


In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Wharf  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  also  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  is  recognized  as  an  enterprising  citi- 
zen, public-spirited  and  progressive, and  overtakes 
a  commendable  interest  in  the  growth  and  progress 
of  his  town  and  county. 


W>ILLIAM  B.  BUNN,  a  representative  farmer 
of  Bonpas  Township,  residing  on  section 
33,  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  Richland  County  for  a  half-century. 
He  has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ment of  the  community  and  is  numbered  among 
the  honored  pioneers.  A  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth 
occurred  in  Wayne  County  June  3,  1838.  His 
father,  Hyatt  Bunn,  was  born  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood. His  grandfather,  Capt.  Benjamin  Bunn, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and,  becoming  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  Buckeye  State,  bought  out  an 
Indian  town  in  1805  on  Jerome  Fork.  A  fort  was 
afterward  built  at  that  place,  in  1812.  Mr.  Bunn 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  and  held  a 
captain's  commission.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and  was  a  regularly  ordained  minister  of  Hie 
Methodist  Church.  He  came  of  a  family  of  Eng- 
lish origin,  which  was  founded  in  Virginia  during 
Colonial  days. 

Hyatt  Bunn  was  married  in  Wayne  County  to 
Betsy  Hazzard,  a  native  of  Jackson  Count}',  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Hazzard,  a  prominent 
Methodist  minister.  For  ten  years  lie  followed 
farming  in  Ohio,  and  in  1838  became  a  resident  of 
Lawrence  County,  111.,  spending  several  years  on 
a  farm  near  Bridgeport.  It  was  in  1843  that  he 
arrive.d  in  Richland  County  and  entered  and  bought 
six  hundred  acres  of  land,  opening  up  a  large  and 
valuable  farm,  upon  which  he  reared  his  family 
and  spent  his  last  years.  He  held  a  number  of 
public  offices  and  was  a  valued  citizen.  With  the 
Methodist  Church  he  held  membership  and  lived 
an  upright,  honorable  life.  lie  died  December  5, 
1891,  and  his  wife  passed  away  June  22,  1863. 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  Bunn  family  numbered  eleven  children,  of 
whom  two  died  in  infancy,  while  nine  grew  to  ma- 
ture years.  The  eldest,  Margaret  Ann,  is  the  wife 
of  G.  W.  Mowry;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Andrew 
Milligan,  of  Lawrence  County;  Benjamin  W.  died 
in  the  service  of  his  country  during  the  late  war; 
William  is  the  next  younger;  Roxanna  is  the  wife  of 
S.  O.  Leather;  Dencey  A.  is  the  wife  of  Silas  Leather; 
Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  C.  Boram;  H.  Niles 
is  a  farmer  of  Richland  County;  and  Permelia  is 
the  wife  of  P.  R.  Fisher. 

During  his  infancy  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  under  the 
parental  roof  was  reared  to  manhood.  In  1860,  he 
married  Miss  Sarah  J.  Srnilh,a  native  of  Richland 
County  and  a  daughter  of  Ella  Smith,  who  came 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  in  an  earl}-  day. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm 
which  is  still  his  home  and  which  Mr.  Bunn  had 
previously  located  upon.  He  cleared  and  fenced 
it,  built  a  log  cabin  and  planted  an  orchard  of  one 
hundred  and  five  apple  trees.  He  first  owned  only 
one  hundred  acres,  but  by  subsequent  purchase  he 
has  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm  until  it 
now  comprises  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
valuable  land,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  well  improved. 

In  1892,  Mr.  Bunn  lost  his  wife,  who  died  on 
the  9th  of  February,  and  was  buried  in  Mt.  Olive 
Cemetery,  where  a  marble  monument  marks  her 
resting-place.  They  had  one  child,  Betsy  E.,  who 
is  now  the  wife  of  David  Fisher,  a  substantial 
farmer  of  Claremont  Township,  On  the  26th  of 
June,  1892,  Mr.  Bunn  was  married  to  Mrs.  Fannie 
Rifner,  widow  of  Sylvester  Rifner,  and  a  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Mary  (Brown)  Bowers,  who  are  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  but  are  now  residents  of 
Richland  County,  111. 

Mr.  Bunn  has  given  a  home  to  several  orphan 
children  and  has  aided  them  in  starting  in  life. 
His  generous  impulses  and  kindly  spirit,  which 
have  prompted  many  good  deeds,  have  won  him 
the  love  and  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a 
firm  Democrat  since  casting  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860.  lie  has 
taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  his 


fellow-citizens,  appreciating  his  worth  and  ability, 
have  called  upon  him  to  serve  in  several  offices  of 
public  trust.  In  municipal  affairs  he  has  been  es- 
pecially prominent,  having  filled  nearly  all  of  the 
various  township  offices,  including  that  of  Supervi- 
sor for  two  years,  and  of  Township  Trustee  for  sev- 
eral years.  From  the  organization  of  the  township 
in  1859  until  1878,  he  occupied  some  official  posi- 
tion most  of  the  time,  and  for  nine  years  assisted 
in  laying  out  township  roads  and  building  bridges. 
In  the  last-named  year  the  township  was  put  under 
county  organization,  and  the  County  Board  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Bunn  Chairman  of  the  Township 
Board  and  Judge  of  Elections,  whicli  position  he 
held  for  two  years,  or  until  they  resumed  town- 
ship organization.  In  an  able  manner  he  has  dis- 
charged his  duties,  both  public  and  private,  thus 
winning  the  commendation  of  all  concerned.  Al- 
most his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  Richland 
County,  and  those  who  have  known  him  from 
boyhood  are  numbered  among  his  warmest  friends, 
a  fact  which  indicates  an  honorable,  upright  ca- 
reer and  one  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


ANIEL  GAFFNER,  dealer  in  leather,  find- 
ings and  hides,  is  a  well-known  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  Gluey,  and  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  that  city.  He  was 
born  in  the  canton  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  July  7, 
1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Gar- 
ber)  Oaffner.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
Switzerland,  and  both  are  now  deceased. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive country,  and  there  served  a  regular  appren- 
ticeship to  the  making  of  fine  sewed  shoes.  Ir 
1854,  after  urgent  solicitation,  his  father  consented 
to  his  coming  to  America,  and  gave  him  at  his  re- 
quest only  $75.  He  crossed  to  Havre,  France,  and 
shipped  from  that  port  in  a  sailing-vessel  for  Nev 
York,  where  he  arrived  after  a  vO3?age  of  forty- 
one  days.  He  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  High- 
land, reaching  his  destination  January  13,  1855 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


351 


There  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1858,  when  he 
came  to  Olney,  Richland  County,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  opened  a  shoe- making  shop.  He  carried 
on  that  business  successfully  until  1862,  when,  his 
health  becoming  impaired,  he  traded  for  a  farm  in 
Edwards  County  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  three  years.  Then  having  regained  his 
health  he  worked  in  a  shoe  store  in  Albion,  the 
county  seat  of  Edwards  Count}-.  After  two  years 
spent  there  he  returned  to  Switzerland  to  pay  his 
parents  a  promised  visit.  This  was  in  1868,  and  he 
spent  three  months  very  happily  with  his  father, 
mother  and  friends,  but  notwithstanding  every 
inducement  offered  to  keep  him  in  the  Old  Coun- 
try he  returned  to  America,  the  land  of  his  adop- 
tion, for  which  he  had  acquired  a  warm  affection. 

On  his  return  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Gaffner  continued 
in  Albion  but  a  short  time,  when  he  again  settled 
in  ( Mney,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  Once  more 
he  embarked  in  the  shoe  business  and  was  thus 
employed  until  1882,  when  he  changed  to  the  hide 
and  leather  business,  which  he  carried  on  for  two 
years.  He  then  sold  out,  but  in  1890  he  resumed 
trade  in  that  line  and  has  since  continued  it  to 
the  present  time. 

Mr.  Gaffner  was  married  in  Olney,  August  28, 
1859,  to  Susanna  Schniter,  who  was  born  in  Berne, 
Switzerland,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Abram  Schniter. 
She  emigrated  to  America  in  1850.  Six  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaffner,  but  a  son  and 
daughter  are  now  deceased.  Robert  married  Emma 
Gissler,  and  is  a  druggist  of  Olney ;  Eddie  died 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  years;  William  Tell  wedded 
Tillie  Eggler,  and  resides  in  Silverdale,  Wash., 
where  he  has  a  general  store;  Charles  Harry  is 
with  his  father;  Clara  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Walter  Benjamin  is  at  school. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaffner  were  reared  under  the 
auspices  of  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  be- 
long to  that  society.  In  politics  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  socially  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  a 
member  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Gorin 
Commander}'  No.  14,  K.  T. 

Mr.  Gaffner  is  a  stockholder  and  Director  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Olney.  He  has  acquired  a 
valuable  property,  owning  two  business  houses, 


five  good  dwellings  and  some  inferior  ones.  He 
also  has  fifty-five  acres  a  mile  out  on  the  State 
Road,  being  a  part  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36,  town  4,  range  10;  three  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  acres  in  Preston  Township;  forty  acres  in 
Denver  Township,  Richland  County;  eighty  acres 
in  Bond  County,  and  twenty  acres  in  Clinton 
County.  On  the  first-mentioned  tract  of  land, 
the  first  white  baby  in  the  locality  was  born. 
Mr.  Gaffner  has  accumulated  a  large  portion  of 
this  property  by  his  own  efforts,  for  while  his 
father  was  well  off  in  the  Old  Country  and  of- 
fered his  son  financial  assistance  whenever  he 
might  need  it,  he  preferred  to  depend  on  himself 
from  the  start. 

The  Gaffner  family  is  of  French  origin,  many 
generations  remote.  There  is  a  well-grounded 
tradition  in  the  family  to  the  effect  that  in  the 
time  of  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  two  brothers  by 
the  name  of  Gaffner,  who  were  Huguenots,  were 
driven  from  that  country  on  account  of  their  re- 
ligious opinions  and  sought  refuge  in  Switzerland, 
where  they  married  and  settled.  From  one  of 
these  brothers  our  subject  is  descended.  Mr.  Gaff- 
ner- is  thoroughly  Americanized  and  is  intensely 
patriotic.  He  is  in  the  fullest  accord  with  the 
theory  of  this  Government,  and  will  yield  to  no 
one  in  his  admiration  of  and  devotion  to  this 
country  and  its  institutions.  He  is  a  most  worthy 
citizen,  enterprising  and  public-spirited,  and  his 
posterity  may  well  look  on  the  record  of  their 
common  ancestor  in  the  New  World  with  respect 
and  pride. 


V.  VANDERHOOF,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  G.  V.  &  R.  H.  Vanderhoof, 
dealers  in  agricultural  implements  of  New- 
ton, 111.,  is  a  native  of  this  city,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  February  14,  1840.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  years  spent  in  the  military  ser- 
vice of  his  country  in  the  late  war  for  the  Union, 
he  has  always  made  Newton  his  home.  The  com- 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mon  schools  afforded  him  his  educational  privi- 
leges, and  he  remained  upon  the  home  farm  until 
he  had  almost  attained  his  majority,  when  he  began 
learning  the  blacksmith's  trade.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1861,  he  quit  the  forge,  and  on  the  12th  of 
August  of  that  year  offered  his  services  to  the 
Government  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, was  assigned  to  Company  K,  and  with  his 
regiment  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 
He  was  in  active  service  in  the  hottest  of  the 
struggle  and  took  part  in  more  than  sixty  differ- 
ent engagements  and  battles.  Among  the  most 
important  may  be  named  the  battles  of  Frederick- 
town  (Mo.),  Corinth  and  I  iika  (Miss.))  Stone  River, 
Tullahoma,  Hoover's  Gap,  Liberty  Gap  and  Chicka- 
mauga  (Tenn.),  Resaca,  Marietta,  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  Lovejoy,  Ga.,  and  the 
capture  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  when  that  city  was 
defended  by  the  Confederate  general,  Hood.  He 
sustained  a  serious  injury  at  Chickamauga  on  the 
19th  of  September,  1863,  being  run  over  in  a 
charge  of  rebel  cavalry.  His  injury  resulted  in  a 
permanent  lameness  of  the  left  leg.  However,  he 
continued  in  the  service  and  was  promoted  to'the 
rank  of  First  Sergeant.  He  veteranized  on  the 
29th  of  February,  1864,  and  was  retained  in  the 
service  until  March  20,  1866,  nearly  a  year  after 
the  cessation  of  hostilities. 

On  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Vanderhoof 
resumed  the  trade  of  blacksmithing  in  Newton, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  1879. 
He  then  embarked  in  the  farm-implement  busi- 
ness, and  followed  that  line  of  trade  until  1886, 
when  he  received  an  appointment  as  keeper  of  the 
penitentiary  located  in  Chester,  111.  This  posi- 
tion he  filled  creditably  until  the  spring  of  1892, 
when  he  returned  to  Newton  and  formed  the  ex- 
isting business  with  his  brother,  R.  H. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1869,  Mr.  Vanderhoof 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Wade  Township,  Jasper 
County,  with  Miss  Nannie  Thomas,  a  daughter  of 
Elihu  Thomas,  and  a  native  of  Richmond,  Ind. 
She  came  to  Jasper  County  with  her  parents  in 
childhood.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vanderhoof,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  but  botli 
died  in  infancy. 


In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  having 
supported  that  party  since  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority. Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Jacob  E.  Reed 
Post  No.  550,  G.  A.  R,;  and  Newton  Lodge  No. 
123,  A.  O.  U.  W.  During  the  late  war,  he  dis- 
played his  loyalty  to  the  country  by  inarching  to 
the  front.  He  is  alike  true  to  every  duty  of  citi- 
zenship, and  the  community  finds  in  him  one  of 
its  valued  and  representative  members. 


W WILLIAM  H.  PARRENT  is  engaged  in 
fanning  on  section  19,  Wade  Township, 
Jasper  County,  where  he  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  pleasantly  situ- 
ated about  four  miles  northeast  of  Newton.  The 
Parrent  family  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
history  of  this  community,  for  they  located  here 
more  than,  half  a  century  ago.  Our  subject  is  a 
native  of  Indiana,  born  near  La  Fayjette,  Tippeca- 
noe  County,  May  22,  1836.  His  father,  David 
Parrent,  was  born  in  Illinois,  but  was  reared  in 
Indiana,  and  there  married  Emily,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Parker,  and  a  native  of  Kentucky.  It  was 
in  1840  that  Mr.  Parrent  came  with  his  family  to 
Jasper  County,  and  made  a  settlement  in  Wade 
Township.  He  entered  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment and  at  once  began  the  work  of  transforming 
the  raw  prairie  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  This 
task  was  at  length  accomplished,  and  upon  the 
farm  which  he  there  developed  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  in  September,  1858.  His 
wife  survived  him  for  a  few  years,  her  death  oc- 
curring February  18,  1870. 

Of  the  seven  children  of  the  Parrent  family, 
Maria,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  John  Flint,  of  Law- 
rence Count}',  Ohio;  James  R.  resides  in  Missouri; 
William  II.  is  the  next  younger;  Margaret  Ann  is 
now  deceased;  John  is  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County; 
George  is  deceased;  and  Mrs.  Emily  J.  Hastings 
completes  the  family. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  four  years  when  he 
came  with  the  family  to  Jasper  County.  No  event 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


355 


of  special  importance  occurred  during  his  boyhood 
and  youth,  which  were  quietly  passed  upon  the 
home  farm.  As  soon  as  old  enough  he  began 
working  in  the  fields,  and  after  his  father's  death 
he  took  charge  of  the  homestead  for  his  mother. 
After  operating  it  for  a  few  years,  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  raw  land,  the  same  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  and  began  the  development  of  a 
farm.  It  was  unfenced  and  unbroken  land,  but  he 
plowed  and  planted  it,  set  out  a  good  orchard, 
built  fences,  erected  a  substantial  residence  and 
has  made  other  valuable  and  desirable  improve- 
ments. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1865,  in  Jasper  County, 
Mr.  Parrent  married  Miss  Barbara,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Nancy  Bowers.  By  their  union  they 
have  had  a  family  of  seven  children,  namely: 
Mahala,  Isabel,  William  H.  and  Willis  E.  (twins), 
James  H.,  Barbara  J.  and  Martha  E.  The  family 
is  one  well  known  in  the  community,  and  its  mem- 
bers rank  high  in  social  circles. 

Mr.  Parrent  lias  spent  almost  his  entire  life  in 
Jasper  County,  and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  its 
growth  and  progress.  He  has  also  largely  aided 
in  its  development  and  upbuilding,  and  has  ever 
faithfully  performed  his  duties  of  citizenship.  In 
politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  warmly  ad- 
vocates the  principles  of  that  party,  although  he 
has  never  sought  or  desired  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office.  Mr.  Parrent  may  truly  be 
called  a  self-made  man,  for  his  success  in  life  is 
due  entirely  to  his  own  well-directed  efforts.  His 
enterprise  and  industry  have  stood  him  instead  of 
capital,  and  he  has  steadilj'  worked  his  way  up- 
ward. 


T.JOSEPH'S  ROMAN  CATHOLIC 
CHURCH,  of  Olney,  was  established  in  this 
city  in  1859.  One  of  the  first  priests  was 
Father  Longliran,  and  the  first  child  bap- 
tized in  the  church  was  Patrick  Burges,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  July  24,  1859,  by  Father 
Longliran. 

17 


At  that  time  the  congregation  was  small  and 
the  work  of  improvement  slow,  but  at  this  writing 
the  membership  has  increased  so  that  it  ranks  as 
one  of  the  first  churches  in  the  city.  The  good 
work  has  steadily  grown  until  the}'  now  own  and 
occupy  one  of  the  finest  sites  in  the  city,  with 
creditable  improvements  thereon.  The  names  of 
the  priests  who  have  resided  here  since  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  congregation  are  respectively  Rev. 
Fathers  Longhran,  Sandrock,  J.  Vahey,  H.  J. 
Hoven,  Thomas  Walsh,  J.  Marty,  P.  Dee,  A.  David, 
P.  Kearney,  J.  Meckrel,  J.  Molitor,  J.  W.  Mersher, 
F.  Budde,  and  the  present  occupant,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Schnelten. 


EV.  JOHN  BERNARD  SCHNELTEN,  pas- 
tor of  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Church  of  Ol- 
ney, was  born  in  the  province  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  and  in  the  common  schools  of 
that  country  received  his  early  education.  When 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  he  was  brought  to  the 
United  States  by  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Car- 
rol Iton,  Greene  County,  this  State,  where  the  family 
still  resides.  There  the  subject  of  this  sketch  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  successfully  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  mercantile  pursuits  for  some  years. 

Deciding  to  devote  his  life  to  the  Church,  Rev. 
Father  Schnelten  pursued  a  classical  course  of  study 
with  the  Franciscan  Fathers  in  Quincy,  111.,  and 
finished  his  philosophical  course  in  St.  Louis  Uni- 
versity, from  which  institution  he  was  graduated 
in  1883,  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  He  then  took  a 
three-years  course  in  theology  at  the  seminary  in 
Milwaukee,  Wis.  In  1886,  he  was  ordained  a  priest 
and  had  charge  of  St.  Stephen's  Church  at  Flora, 
111.,  for  nearly  two  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  was  transferred  to  his  present  posi- 
tion, in  which  he  has  labored  earnestly  and  faith- 
fully in  the  interests  of  his  church  and  people  for 
the  past  five  years.  Under  his  management  the 
church  was  located  on  its  present  desirable  site, 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  L'lOGKAI  H1CAL   RECORD. 


and  the  comfortable,  convenient  residence  was 
built  under  his  direction  in  1892.  Father  Schnel- 
ten  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  classes 
of  people  in  the  community. 


ARTIN  UTTERBACK,  who  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  26,  Preston  Town- 
ship, was  born  in  Kentucky  January  31, 
1827.  His  father,  Elijah  Utterback,  was 
also  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. His  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mildred  Snyder,  was  likewise  of  German  lineage. 
The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  numbered  four- 
teen children,  but  the  three  eldest,  Dica,  Sylvester 
and  Ebsworth,  are  now  deceased.  Jane  is  the 
next  younger, and  was  followed  by  Martin;  David 
is  also  deceased;  Willis  and  Martha  are  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Louisa  died  several  years  ago; 
Gilla,  Thomas  and  Felix  have  also  departed  this 
life;  and  Harvey  and  Catherine  complete  the 
family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
upon  a  farm,  and  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Ill- 
inois in  1829,  being  then  only  two  years  of  age. 
The  family  made  the  trip  Westward  by  team  and 
located  in  what  is  now  Claremont  Township, 
Richland  County,  but  was  then  a  part  of  Law- 
rence County.  The  father  died  in  this  county  in 
1876,  having  survived  his  wife  a  number  of  years. 
Her  death  occurred  in  1864. 

Martin  Utterback  in  his  early  youth  attended 
the  subscription  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
which  were  held  in  a  log  house,  but  his  privileges 
in  that  direction  were  quite  limited,  and  he  is 
largely  a  self-educated  man.  To  his  father  he  gave 
the  benefit  of  his  services  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  left  home  and  went  to 
Claremont,  where  lie  worked  for  two  years,  serving 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith's  trade.  He 
then  established  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  shop  of 
his  own  in  Claremont.  and  carried  on  business  in 
that  place  until  1874.  On  selling  out  he  purchased 


an  interest  in  a  drug  store  in  Claremont  and  de- 
voted his  energies  to  that  line  of  business  for  four 
years. 

It  was  in  1857  that  Mr.  Utterback  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Burgess.  By  their 
union  were  born  seven  children,  as  follows:  Al- 
fred, Edwin,  Margaret  Lena,  Walter  M.,  Bertie 
L.  (deceased),  Paul  W.  and  Rufus  A.  The  mother 
of  this  family  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  No- 
vember 11,  1882, and  her  remains  were  interred  in 
St.  Paul's  Cemetery  in  Preston  Township.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  was  a  lady 
whose  excellencies  of  character  endeared  her  to 
her  many  friends. 

Since  its  organization  Mr.  Utterback  has  been  a 
warm  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  takes 
a  warm  interest  in  its  growth  and  success.     lie  has 
held  the   office  of  Township  Clerk,  but  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  official  honors.     In  religious 
belief  he  is  a  Lutheran.     In    1878  he  took  up  his 
residence    on    the    farm  which  has  since  been  his 
home  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  his 
eighty-five  acres  of  arable   land.     He  also    rais 
some  stock.     Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  p: 
in  this  count}',  whither  he  came  at  a  time  whet 
there    were   only    two    frame    houses    in    Olnej 
Trading  was   done  at   Lawrenceville  and  the  fam- 
ily had  to  endure  many  of  the  hardships  and  trial 
incident  to  frontier  life.     In  the  work  of  develop 
ing  the  county  he  has  ever  borne    his    part   anr 
taken  a  just  pride  in  its  progress  and  well  deserve 
representation  among  its  honored  pioneers. 


-.  ANIEL  P.  SMITH,  of  Newton,  is  a  well- 
known  early  settler  of  Jasper  County.  He 
dates  his  permanent  residence  in  the  coun- 
ty from  1850.  though  he  at  first  arrived 
within  its  borders  in  the  fall  of  1849,  and  prepared 
the  way  for  the  settlement  which  he  made  the  fol- 
lowing spring.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Muskingum 
County,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1822,  and  is  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


German  descent.  His  father,  David  Smith,  was 
born  in  Germany,  and  emigrating  to  America  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneers  of  Muskingum  County. 
His  death  occurred  during  the  childhood  of  Daniel 
P.,  so  that  our  subject  has  no  remembrance  of  his 
father.  The  maiden  name  of  the  wife  and  mother 
was  Nancy  Lynch.  She  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  survived  her  husband  many  years, 
but  is  now  deceased.  This  worthy  couple  had  a 
family  of  eight  children  who  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  and  five  of  that  number,  three  broth- 
ers and  two  sisters,  are  still  living  at  this  writing, 
in  the  spring  of  1893.  Only  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  his  brother,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Smith,  ever 
became  permanent  residents  of  Illinois.  The  third 
surviving  brother,  George,  resides  in  Brazil,  Ind. 

Being  deprived  of  a  father's  care  early  in  life, 
Daniel  Smith  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources 
at  an  early  age  and  forced  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood. When  a  youth  of  fifteen  summers,  he  went 
to  Terre  Haute,  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  where  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  to  the  trade  of  a  .tailor.  He 
worked  at  the  business  of  tailoring  for  about  five 
years,  when,  his  health  having  become  impaired,  he 
relinquished  that  pursuit  and  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  which  he  followed  near  Terre  Haute. 

Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  that  State  to  Miss 
Mary  Isabel  Eagleton.  Soon  afterwards  he  came 
to  Jasper  County,  111.,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in 
Grove  Township.  He  obtained  his  land  from  the 
Government,  and  upon  the  farm  made  his  home 
for  thirty-five  years.  When  he  came  into  posses- 
sion of  it  it  was  in  a  wild  and  unimproved  state, 
but  he  immediately  began  its  development  and  had 
it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so  that  the 
rich  and  fertile  fields  yielded  to  him  a  golden  trib- 
ute. On  the  28th  of  August,  1887,  Mr.  Smith  was 
bereft  of  his  wife  by  death.  She  was  born  in 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  1833,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Alexander  Kagleton,  formerly  of  the  State  of  Ten- 
nessee. Her  excellencies  of  character  won  her 
manj'  friends  and  her  death  was  widely  mourned. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  blessed  with  a  family  of 
ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living,  one  son  hav- 
ing died  in  infancy.  With  the  exception  of  the 
eldest- child,  all  were  born  on  the  old  home  farm 
in  Grove  Township,  and  all  are  yet  residents  Of 


Jasper  County,  with  the  exception  of  Orpheus  W., 
who  is  now  living  in  Dccatur,  III. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  growth  and  development  of  Jasper  County  for 
nearly  forty-five  years.  In  1873  he  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  County  Treasurer,  and  was  twice  re- 
elected,  serving  nine  years  in  that  capacity.  It 
may  be  inferred  that  great  confidence  is  imposed 
in  his  abilit}7-  and  integrity  by  his  fellow-citizens, 
from  the  fact  that  though  he  has  ever  been  a  stanch 
Republican,  and  the  county  strongly  Democratic, 
yet  he  was  three  times  called  to  the  most  import- 
ant county  office  by  popular  vote.  After  the  death 
of  his  wife,  with  whom  he  had  traveled  life's  jour- 
ney for  nearly  forty  years,  Mr.  Smith  retired  from 
the  more  active  duties  of  business,  and  now  re- 
sides with  his  brother,  Dr.  Lewis  W.  Smith,  in  the 
village  of  Newton.  He  has  ever  been  a  valued 
resident  of  the  community,  and  his  upright  and 
honorable  career  has  won  him  universal  confidence 
and  esteem. 


>IIE  EFFINGHAM  MILLING  COMPANY, 
one  of  the  leading  industries  of  Effing- 
ham,  was  incorporated  in  February,  1892, 
with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $30,000.  The  incorpor- 
ators,  who  are  the  present  trustees  and  man- 
agers of  the  business,  are  Edward  Austin,  W.  W. 
Austin,  William  Dyke,  Calvin  Austin,  Harry  B. 
Austin  and  Charles  Austin.  The  first-named 
gentleman  is  President  of  the  company,  while 
Calvin  Austin  holds  the  office  of  Vice-President 
and  William  Dyke  is  serving  as  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  The  mill  is  fitted  out  with  roller- 
process  machinery  of  the  best  modern  make,  and 
has  a  daily  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  barrels  of  flour.  The  mill  was  rebuilt  in  1889 
and  supplied  with  new  machinery,  so  that  it  is  now 
comparatively  new.  It  is  operated  by  a  sixty 
horse  power  steam  engine  and  is  situated  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  city,  two  blocks  west  of  the 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Illinois  Central  Railroad.  The  members  of  the 
Elfingham  Milling  Company  are  all  men  of  good 
business  ability  and  financial  standing,  and  in  this 
industry  they  are  doing  a  successful  business, 
which  is  constantly  increasing.  A  liberal  patron- 
age is  certainly  well  deserved  by  them. 


JOSEPH  SIEMER,  a  well-known  business 
man  of  Teutopolis  and  a  representative 
citizen  of  Effingham  County,  is  a  member 
__  of  the  firm  of  Uptmor  &  Siemer,  proprie- 
tors of  the  Hope  Mills  and  dealers  in  grain.  His 
life  record  is  as  follows:  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Cincinnati,  on  the 
24th  of  October,  1857.  His  parents  were  Joseph 
and  Magdelena  Siemer.  Our  subject  lost  his 
mother  while  an  infant,  but  his  father  survived  for 
some  years  and  passed  away  in  1870. 

Joseph  Siemer,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  in  his  native  city 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Cincin- 
nati. In  1874  he  came  to  Teutopolis  and  since 
that  time  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county.  He 
was  variously  employed  until  1882,  when  he 
joined  his  father-in-law  and  brother-in-law  in  the 
erection  of  the  Hope  Mills,  and  has  since  been 
manager  of  the  same.  Under  his  management 
affairs  have  prospered  and  the  business  is  now  in 
a  flourishing  condition,  being  one  of  the  leading 
industries  of  this  locality. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Siemer 
occurred  on  the  29th  of  April,  1879,  when  he  was 
married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Angela 
Uptmor,  a  daughter  of  Clement  and  Elizabeth 
Uptmor.  She  was  born  in  Teutopolis,  of  which 
place  her  father  is  the  most  prominent  and  dis- 
tinguished pioneer.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Siemer 
has  been  born  a  family  of  five  children  yet  liv- 
ing and  they  have  also  lost  one,  a  son.  In  order 
pf  birth  they  are  as  follows:  Catherine,  Elizabeth, 


Clement,  Josephine,  Henry  (who  died  at  the  age  of 
ten  and  a-half  years),  and  Mary,  who  completes 
the  family. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Siemer  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  manifests  considerable  interest  in  polit- 
ical affairs.  He  has  been  elected  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Village  Board  of  Teutopolis,  filling 
that  office  for  a  period  of  four  years,  and  has  also 
served  as  Town  Treasurer  for  two  years.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  and  his  family  are  Catholics,  belong- 
ing to  the  church  in  Teutopolis.  They  are  widely 
known  in  this  community  and  are  also  favorably 
known,  being  held  in  high  esteem  by  their  many 
acquaintances  for  their  excellencies  of  character 
and  sterling  worth. 

In  addition  to  his  interest  in  the  Hope  Mills, 
Mr.  Siemer  owns  some  village  property,  and  his 
wife  has  forty  acres  of  land  lying  near  the  town 
of  Teutopolis.  Mr.  Siemer  is  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  citizens  of  this  place, 
and  is  known  as  an  industrious,  upright  man,  whose 
success  in. life  has  been  achieved  through  his  own 
efforts,  and  is  therefore  well  deserved. 


R.  SLOVER,  who  follows  farming 

on  section  1 1,  Bonpas  Township,  was  born 
near  New  Harmony,  Ind.,  on  the  13th  of 
June,  1815,  and  is  a  son  of  Abram  and  Mary 
(White)  Slover.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  a  son  of  Abraham  Slover,  whc 
was  of  German  descent.  The  mother  of  our  eul 
ject  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 

The  earl}-  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  wer 
spent  in  the  Hoosier  State,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen years  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Illinois.  They  located  first  in  Coles 
County,  from  where  they  afterward  removed  to 
White  County.  Their  last  place  of  residence  was 
in  Wabash  County,  where  the  father  died  about 
1833.  His  wife  survived  him  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  and  passed  away  in  1857. 

Gilbert    R,  Slover  came   to    Richlaud    County 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


about  1841,  and  settled  upon  his  present  farm.  It 
was  then  an  unbroken  forest,  but  he  built  a  small  log 
cabin  and  made  a  squatter's  claim.  It  was  several 
years  before  he  could  secure  the  means  to  purchase 
the  land,  even  at  the  low  Government  price.  He 
began  to  clear  the  tract  of  timber  and  made  other 
preparations  toward  the  development  of  the  farm. 
Much  of  his  time  he  had  to  spend  in  hunting,  in 
order  to  secure  a  subsistence.  He  probably  has 
killed  as  many  deer  as  any  man  in  the  county 
since  1841.  As  the  years  passed,  his  financial  re- 
sources were  increased,  and  he  at  length  became 
owner  of  a  good  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  but 
with  the  exception  of  eighty  acres,  he  has  given  it 
all  to  his  children. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1837,  Mr.  Slover  married 
Sophia,  daughter  of  William  Brown,  of  Wabash 
County,  111.  Six  children  were  born  unto  them: 
John,  who  died  in  childhood;  Mrs.  Maria  East- 
erday;  Mary,  deceased;  William,  who  follows 
farming  near  the  old  homestead;  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Tucker;  and  Gilbert,  who  is  also  an  agriculturist  of 
this  community. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slover  have  for  many  years  been 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson,  and  has 
since  been  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles. 
He  is  the  oldest  settler  in  Bonpas  Township,  and 
one  both  widely  and  favorably  known. 


tHE  CITY  SCHOOLS  of  Effingham  are  an 
important  factor  in  this  community,  and 
should  be  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the 
county.  They  are  well  managed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Prof.  LA.  Smothers,  who  is  Principal,  and 
is  now  serving  his  fourth  year  in  that  position. 
The  School  Board  consists  of  the  following-named: 
Charles  Butler,  President;  William  B.  Wright, 
Secretary;  Mrs.  Alice  Wright  Gwin,  Edward  Aus- 
tin, F.  O.  Green,  Thomas  Powell  and  T.  J.  Bow- 
ling. 

There  are   two  school  buildings,  brick  in  struc- 


ture, which  are  well  adapted  for  the  purpose.  They 
are  heated  by  steam,  well  ventilated,  and  have 
all  the  accessories  of  a  first-class  school.  The 
school  is  graded  and  has  an  enrollment  of  about 
five  hundred  scholars  under  the  care  of  Prof. 
Smothers  and  eight  assistant  teachers.  The  High 
School  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Effingham, 
and  the  other  on  the  east  side.  The  former  is  well 
equipped  with  philosophical  apparatus,  valued  at 
$300.  No  better  equipped  school  can  be  found  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  The  course  covers  a  period 
of  eight  years  in  the  graded  departments  and 
three  years  in  the  High  School.  Each  teacher  has 
an  average  of  more  than  sixty  pupils,  and  as  the 
attendance  is  constantly  increasing,  the  facilities 
will  soon  be  enlarged.  An  efficient  School  Board 
is  at  the  head,  capable  teachers  have  been  em- 
ployed, and  the  superintendent  is  an  able  in- 
structor. Owing  to  these  facts  the  Effingham 
schools  occupy  an  enviable  rank. 


JOHN  HENRY  UPTMOR  ranks  among  the 
leading  and  successful  business  men  of 
Teutopolis.  He  is  a  dealer  in  general  mer- 
'  chandise  and  now  enjoys  a  good  trade.  As 
his  business  career  has  made  him  widely  known, 
we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will 
prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  Mr. 
Uptmor  is  a  native  of  Teutopolis,  and  is  the  only 
surviving  child  of  John  H.  and  Mary  Anna 
(Yohring)  Uptmor.  Our  subject  was  born  July 
18,  1867.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
Catholic  parochial  schools  and  in  St.  Joseph's  Col- 
lege, of  this  place.  When  about  thirteen  years  of 
age  he  met  with  a  serious  accident  in  the  harvest 
field  upon  the  home  farm.  He  was  run  over  by 
a  reaping-machine  and  the  injury  resulted  in  the 
loss  of  his  left  leg,  which  had  to  be  amputated 
below  the  left  knee. 

Having  finished  his  school  life,  Mr.  Uptmor 
secured  a  position  as  merchant's  clerk  for  a  time. 
He  also  engaged  in  teaching  school,  following  that 


360 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


profession  for  two  and  a-half  years,  after  which 
he  turned  his  attention  to  commercial  pursuits. 
It  was  in  December,  1888,  that  he  embarked  in 
merchandising  in  Teutopolis.  He  now  owns  and 
operates  a  general  store  and  carries  a  good  stock. 
Anxious  to  please  his  patrons,  he  is  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings  and  has  therefore 
won  a  liberal  patronage  from  the  public. 

Mr.  Uptmor  was  united  in  marriage  in  Teutop- 
olis on  the  18th  of  October,  1892,  with  Miss 
Annie  Abbink,  who  was  born  near  Middleton,  111., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Abbink. 
The  young  couple  are  well  known  in  this  commu- 
nity and  rank  high  in  social  circles. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Uptmor  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democracy.  Himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  While  engaged 
in  business  for  only  a  few  years,  Mr.  Uptmor  has 
succeeded  in  building  up  a  fair  trade,  which  is 
constantly  increasing.  He  is  but  a  young  man, 
with  the  future  before  him,  and  will  no  doubt  in 
coining  years  win  prosperity  as  the  result  of  his 
energy  and  activity,  which  are  among  his  chief 
characteristics. 


/,,,,  USTIN  COLLEGE  is  an  educational  insti- 
!OI  tution  of  which  the  citizens  of  Effingham 
County  may  well  be  proud.  Several  pub- 
lic-spirited citizens  of  Effingham  organ- 
ized a  movement  in  1890  to  establish  an  institu- 
tion of  higher  education.  Meetings  were  held,  and 
general  interest  was  excited.  The  movement  soon 
took  a  practical  shape  by  the  opening  of  subscrip- 
tion books.  The  necessary  amount  was  raised  in 
a  few  days,  bids  for  the  erection  of  a  model  col- 
lege building,  possessing  all  the  modern  equip- 
ments, were  invited,  and  on  the  22d  of  October  the 
corner-stone  of  the  beautiful  structure  was  laid 
with  impressive  ceremonies,  conducted  by  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  led  by  Grand  Master  Owen 
Scott,  of  Bloomington,  111.  In  the  spring  of  1891, 
Prof.  W.  E.  Lugenbeel,  the  Principal  of  the  Bor- 


den  Institution,  of  Borden,  Ind.,  and  who  had 
managed  the  Southern  Indiana  Normal  School,  of 
Mitchell,  with  signal  success  for  eight  years,  was 
invited  to  the  presidency  of  the  faculty.  He  ac- 
cepted, believing  that  this  institution  would  be- 
come one  of  the  great  schools  of  the  State.  Prof. 
W.  J.  Brinckley,  a  teacher  of  wide  experience  and 
extensive  attainments  in  the  sciences,  was  elected 
to  the  chair  of  scientific  instruction;  Prof.  Hiram 
H.  Bice,  of  Johns  Hopkins  University,  was  elected 
to  the  department  of  ancient  languages  and  Eng- 
lish literature;  Prof.  J.  A.  Turley,  of  Borden  In- 
stitute, was  appointed  principal  of  the  business 
department;  Miss  Mary  E.  Gilmore,  of  the  Rich- 
mond (Ind.)  Business  College,  was  selected  as  prin- 
cipal of  the  shorthand  and  type-writing  depart- 
ment, and  teacher  of  elocution;  Prof.  Max  Mar- 
tine,  of  the  Freiburg  and  Paris  Universities,  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  modern  languages;  and  Prof. 
R.  P.  Schifferstein,  Director  of  the  Effingham  Musi- 
cal Conservatory,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
musical  department. 

Profs.  Lugenbeel  and  Brinckley  were  appointed 
to  select  and  purchase  the  library  and  apparatus, 
which  were  to  be  of  the  best.  The  various  rooms 
were  fitted  with  all  necessary  appliances,  and  fur- 
nished with  every  convenience  in  furniture  and 
fixtures.  All  things  being  in  readiness,  the  insti- 
tution was  formally  opened  on  the  evening  of 
July  6,  1891,  by  a  concert  given  by  the  leading 
members  of  the  noted  Emma  Abbott  Opera  Com- 
pany. Dr.  John,  President  of  De  Pauw  Univer- 
sity, delivered  a  profound  oration.  On  the  fol- 
lowing morning  Austin  College  began  its  regular 
work  with  an  attendance  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred students.  From  the  first  day,  the  success  anc 
value  of  the  enterprise  were  assured,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  first  scholastic  year,  the  enrollment  had 
reached  more  than  two  hundred  students. 

Prof.  L.  P.  Doe  IT  was  chosen  to  succeed  Prof. 
Bice;  Miss  lola  Gilbert,  of  the  Chicago  Music 
Conservatory,  has  succeeded  Prof.  Schifferstein; 
and  Mrs.  L.  P.  Doerr,  of  the  Cincinnati  Art 
School,  has  been  chosen  to  conduct  the  art  depart- 
ment. In  consideration  of  the  great  benefactions 
conferred  by  Edward  and  Calvin  Austin,  the  insti- 
tution was  named  Austin  College  and  Normal  In- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


361 


stitute.  Among  its  other  benefactors  were  Dr. 
J.  B.  Walker,  George  M.  Le  Crone,  Judge  S.  F. 
Gilmore,  Hon.  E.  N.  Rhinehart,  Mrs.  N.  B.  White, 
Philip  E.  Crooker,  L.  H.  Bissell,  Joseph  Part- 
ridge, Sr.,  and  Capt.  A.  W.  Le  Crone. 

The  officers  of  the  college  are  Edward  Austin 
President;  Dr.  J.  B.  Walker,  Vice-President;  G.  M. 
Le  Crone,  Secretary;  Joseph  Partridge,  Sr.,  Treas- 
urer; and  W.  E.  Lugenbcel,  Assistant  Secretary, 
Its  Directors  are  Calvin  Austin,  Mrs.  N.  B.  White. 
Hon.  Albert  N.  Campbell,  L.  H.  Bissell,  Hon.  E.  N. 
Rliinehart,  Hon.  S.  F.  Gilmore  and  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Stevens.  The  main  college  building  is  a  beautiful 
structure,  three  stories  high,  constructed  of  brick 
and  stone  and  containing  ten  rooms.  The  recita- 
tion rooms  are  furnished  with  opera  chairs,  having 
book  tablets,  the  library  room  with  tables  and 
comfortable  chairs,  and  the  chemical  laboratory  with 
all  the  facilities  for  original  and  class  work,  etc., 
The  entire  building  is  heated  by  steam  and  lighted 
by  gas,  and  the  location  is  superb.  The  Trustees 
have  erected  a  beautiful  home  for  the  college,  and 
have  embellished  it  with  all  that  appeals  to  the 
noblest  feelings.  The  institution  is  non-sectarian 
and  receives  students  of  any  religious  belief. 

In  regard  to  apparatus,  Austin  College  stands 
pre-eminent.  It  has  a  chemical  laboratory,  fur- 
nished with  gas,  regents,  and  the  best  apparatus 
for  all  kinds  of  work;  a  physical  laboratory 
containing  costly  and  rare  implements,  spectro- 
scope, double-plate  electral  machine,  etc;  and  a 
biological  laboratory,  complete  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments; a  geological  cabinet,  with  all  the  important 
minerals,  ores  and  fossils;  every  appointment  which 
will  aid  the  study  of  physiology  and  anatomy;  a 
fine  telescope,  a  full  set  of  surveying  and  engi- 
neering instruments,  the  leading  type-writers  and 
excellent  pianos,  including  the  finest  Chiekcring 
Grand.  The  reference  library  contains  over 
two  thousand  volumes,  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
college  libraries,  on  account  of  the  adaptability  of 
the  books  to  the  use  of  the  students. 

The  courses  of  study  in  Austin  College  include, 
without  entering  into  details,  all  that  is  under- 
stood under  the  following  general  headings:  A 
preparatory  course  of  one  year,  a  classical  colle- 
giate course  of  three  years,  modern  language  and 


scientific  course,  teachers'  advanced  course,  teach- 
ers' elementary  course,  surveying  course,  business 
course,  art  and  music  course,  shorthand  and  type- 
writing, department  of  natural  science,  physics, 
chemistry,  mineralogy,  botany,  zoology,  physi- 
ology, biology,  histology,  microscopy  and  astron- 
omy. 

All  southern  Illinois  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to 
the  earnest  and  public-spirited  persons  who  estab- 
lished Austin  College.  It  is  rapidly  taking  rank 
among  the  leading  educational  institutions,  not 
onlj'  of  Illinois,  but  of  surrounding  States, and  the 
citizens  of  this  community  have  great  reason  to 
be  proud  of  it. 


J.  WAGNER,  one  of  the  extensive 
land-owners  of  Richland  County,  his  poss- 
essions aggregating  four  hundred  and  five 
acres  is  living  on  section  2,  Bon  pas  Township.  He 
also  owns  property  in  the  city  of  Olney.  He  was  born 
near  Sarbrucken,  on  the  Rhine,  in  Prussia,  July  25, 
1841,  and  isason  of  Jacob  and  Theresa  (Wahrech) 
Wagner,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  country. 
In  1847,  the  family  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic 
to  America  and  located  in  Summit  County,  Ohio, 
from  where  they  went  to  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  coal  mining.  In  1857 
he  brought  his  wife  and  children  to  Richland 
County,  and  carried  on  farming  in  German  Town- 
ship. During  his  last  years  he  lived  a  retired  life  in 
Olncy,  where  his  death  occured  in  February,  1874. 
His  wife  survived  him  several  years  and  passed 
away  in  Jasper  County,  February  19,  1893.  Their  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Catholic  Cemetery  of 
Olney.  Of  their  fourteen  children,  eight  died  in 
childhood.  The  others  are  Jacob,  now  deceased; 
Philip,  of  Jasper  County;  John,  deceased;  George 
J.,  of  this  sketch;  Andrew,  also  of  Jasper  County; 
and  Mary,  wife  of  H.  Spangler.  The  parents  were 
devout  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  as  are  all 
their  children  with  the  exception  of  our  subject. 
George  Wagner  received  but  limited  school 


362 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


privileges  in  his  boyhood,  but  after  his  marriage, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  wife,  he  acquired  a  good 
business  education,  and  is  now  an  intelligent  and 
well-read  man.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  home 
and  worked  in  a  sawmill  in  Wabash  County. 
Later  he  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  subsequently, 
after  traveling  through  Ohio,  he  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Lawrence  County,  111.,  where  he  rented 
a  farm. 

In  November,  1861,  Mr.  Wagner  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  Twenty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  for 
three  years'  service  during  the  late  war,  and  when 
his  term  expired  he  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran.  He 
received  his  final  discharge  July  21,  1865.  He 
participated  in  many  engagements,  the  most  im- 
portant of  which  were  the  battles  of  New  Madrid, 
Island  No.  10,  Point  Pleasant,  Corinth,  luka 
the  second  battle  of  Corinth,  Farmington  and 
Mission  Ridge.  He  was  ill  for  a  time  in  the  hos- 
pital at  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  but  escaped  without 
wounds.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  service  he 
was  employed  in  guarding  prisoners.  He  proved 
an  efficient  soldier,  and  was  always  found  faithful 
to  his  duty  and  the  Old  Flag. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Wagner  rented 
his  father's  farm  for  a  year,  and  then  bought 
land  near  St.  Marie,  Jasper  County.  On  the  4th 
of  June,  1867,  he  wedded  Margaret  Klepper,  who 
•was  born  in  German  Township,  Richland  County, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Kasiner  Klepper,  an  honored 
pioneer  of  this  county.  Mr.  Wagner  then  devoted 
his  energies  untiringly  to  farm  labor,  but  after  ten 
years,  owing  to  failing  health,  caused  by  his  ser- 
vices in  the  army,  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Ol- 
ney,  where  he  lived  a  retired  life  for  some  time. 
About  1886,  he  bought  a  portion  of  his  present 
farm  and  the  remainder  in  1892.  This  farm  has 
a  great  variety  of  resources  and  is  being  rapidly 
improved  by  Mr.  Wagner.  Nearly  three  hundred 
acres  are  under  cultivation.  There  are  found 
not  only  good  buildings,  but  the  latest  improved 
machinery  as  well,  and  all  other  accessories  of  a 
inodel  farm,  together  with  some  fine  grades  of  stock. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  and  has  voted  the  Republican  ticket 
since  attaining  his  majority.  He  may  truly  be 
called  a  self-made  man,  for  he  started  out  without 


capital,  save  his  own  energy  and  determination. 
By  judicious  investments  and  speculations,  he  has 
accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune,  the  result  of  a 
busy  life.  He  is  an  independent  thinker,  and  uses 
his  own  judgment  in  all  transactions.  He  now 
rents  his  farm  and  is  living  retired,  resting  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 


J'  OHN  BROWN,  who  carries  on  general  farrn- 
I  ing  on  section  9,  Smallwood  Township,  Jas- 
per County,  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland, 
__  '  April  21,  1810.  He  is  the  only  child  of 
John  and  Margaret  Brown,  of  Dundee.  In  that 
city  his  father  owned  quite  a  large  factory,  which 
he  operated  successfully  until  1820,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  business  there  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. Going  to  Jefferson  County,  Ind.,  he  entered 
a  tract  of  heavily  timbered  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment. Soon  the  woodman's  axe  awakened  the 
echoes  of  the  forest,  and  after  the  trees  had  been 
cleared  away  he  plowed  and  planted  his  land  and 
soon  had  a  good  farm.  In  later  years  he  ran  a 
distillery  in  connection  with  farming.  His  death 
occurred  May  1,  1837. 

Our  subject  was  deprived  of  a  mother's  tender 
care  when  very  young.  He  was  only  ten  years  of 
age  when  with  his  father  he  came  to  the  United 
States.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  upon  the 
old  homestead  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  When 
he  had  reached  his  majority  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Tennessee, 
March  10,  1812.  Their  union  was  celebrated  May 
13,  1830,  and  was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  thirteen 
children,  nine  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom 
nine  are  yet  living:  Nancy  Ann,  wife  of  Peter 
Chandler;  Thomas;  George;  Harrison;  Matilda, 
widow  of  Archie  I lamilton ;  Nelson ;  Joseph ;  Stephen 
A.;  and  Melinda,  wife  of  James  Bridges.  The 
sons  are  all  farmers  of  Smallwood  Township,  and 
the  sons-in-law  follow  the  same  pursuit. 

Mrs.  Brown,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Jackson,  was  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


363 


Jackson,  who  were  both  natives  of  Tennessee. 
She  was  a  woman  possessing  many  excellent  traits 
of  character,  a  devout  Christian  and  a  true  help- 
mate to  her  husband,  with  whom  she  traveled  life's 
journey  for  upwards  of  sixty  years.  She  died 
January  27,  1892. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Brown  rented  a  farm  in 
Indiana,  and  after  four  years  he  entered  Govern- 
ment laud.  The  tract  was  covered  with  timber, 
but  he  cleared  and  improved  it  and  engaged  in  its 
cultivation  for  seventeen  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Jas- 
per County,  111.  This  was  in  1851.  Here  he  again 
entered  land  from  the  Government,  and  the  wild 
and  unbroken  tract  he  transformed  into  the  excel- 
lent farm  upon  which  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  now  owns  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
in  Smallwood  Township,  and  has  given  to  his 
children  a  considerable  amount.  He  also  owns 
some  real  estate  in  Newton  and'  West  Liberty. 
He  is  energetic  and  industrious,  and  his  progres- 
sive spirit  and  well-directed  efforts  have  gained 
for  him  a  handsome  competence.  He  began  life 
empty-handed,  but  step  by  step  lie  worked  his  way 
upward  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  affluence.  His 
success  in  his  business  affairs  now  enables  him  to 
live  a  retired  life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

Mr.  Brown  and  all  of  his  sons  are  stanch  Demo- 
crats. He  has  represented  his  township  as  Super- 
visor for  a  number  of  years,  has  also  served  as  As- 
sessor, and  for  a  great  many  years  has  been  School 
Director,  discharging  his  official  duties  with  a 
commendable  promptness  and  fidelity.  He  has  al- 
ways taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  advancement  of 
those  public  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the 
community,  and  is  liberal  in  his  support  of  any 
enterprise  tending  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
town  or  county. 

Mr.  Brown  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  yet  he 
had  not  worked  for  his  own  interest  alone.  For 
forty-five  years  he  has  been  a  local  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  has  preached  throughout  Jas- 
per, Richland,  Clay  and  Cumberland  Counties, 
lie  lias  been  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Master's 
vineyard,  and  both  by  precept  and  example  has 
led  others  to  walk  in  the  higher  life.  Probably 


no  man  in  the  community  is  more  widely  known 
than  Mr.  Brown  throughout  southern  Illinois,  and 
certainly  none  are  held  in  higher  regard,  for  he 
has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
his  life  work  has  brought  him  in  contact. 


J'"]  OHN  CONANT  WHITE,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Forestville,  Wake  County,  N.  C.,  May 
21,  1846,  and  was  a  son  of  John  B.  and 
Mary  (Mernam)  White.  His  parents  were 

both  natives  of  New  Hampshire.  His  father  was 
a  well-educated  man  and  became  President  of  a 
college  in  Forestville,  N.  C.  During  the  boyhood 
of  our  subject  the  family  emigrated  Westward  and 
in  1855  became  residents  of  Illinois.  The  father 
had  charge  of  Almira  College  at  Greenville,  111. 

Our  subject  was  a  good  student,  having  in- 
herited many  of  the  literary  tendencies  of  his 
father.  He  attended  the  model  department 
of  the  State  University  at  tlrbana  in  1863  for 
one  year,  and  the  following  year  entered  the 
preparatory  department  of  Chicago  University, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1865  entered  Shurtleff  College, 
at  Upper  Alton.  At  the  end  of  his  junior  year 
he  became  a  student  in  Brown  University,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1869.  He  th en  began  the  study  of  law  in 
St.  Louis  with  Judge  Samuel  Reber,  after  which 
he  came  to  Efflngham  and  read  law  with  J.  N.  Gwin. 
In  1872  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  after  which 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  N.  Rinehart  and 
began  to  practice  law.  This  connection  continued 
until  August,  1873,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Judge  S.F.  Gilmore.  He  continued  his  residence 
in  Effingham  and  became  a  successful  legal  prac- 
tioner.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  in  part- 
nership with  W.  B.  Wright.  Mr.  White  was  a  thor- 
ough student  of  his  profession,  was  an  earnest  and 
able  advocate,  and  won  his  way  to  a  foremost  po- 
sition at  the  Effingham  County  Bar. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1875,  in  Seymour,  Ind., 
Mr.  White  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Nellie  J.  Bliss,  daughter  of  Alfred  and  Direxia 
Bliss.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  this  State  and  was 
educated  in  Almira  College.  By  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  were  born  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  still  living.  Bliss  C.,  Annie  Lucile 
and  John  B.  Mary  J.,  their  eldest  child,  died  at 
the  age  of  five  months;  and  Nellie  Knowles,  the 
third  child,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

In  his  political  affiliations  he  was  a  Republican 
until  1888,  when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Democ- 
racy. He  always  took  an  active  part  in  public 
affairs  and  manifested  a  commendable  interest  in. 
all  that  pertained  to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  a 
number  of  years  and  the  cause  of  education  found 
in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  was  a  successful  lawyer 
and  an  accomplished  gentleman," and  in  this  com- 
munity was  recognized  as  a  prominent  and  valued 
citizen. 

Mr.  White  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  having  attained  the  degree  of 
Royal  Arch  Mason.  He  was  Master  of  Effingham 
Lodge  No.  149,  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  for  three  years, 
and  served  as  Deputy  District  Grand  Master  for 
two  years,  having  been  appointed  by  the  Grand 
Master  of  Illinois. 

He  passed  away  on  the  12th  of  December,  1888, 
and  his  death  was  deeply  mourned  by  many  friends, 
for  he  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with 
whom  he  was  brought  in  contact.  His  wife  is  still 
living  in  Effingham,  where  she  has  many  warm 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


HARLES  SHULTZ,  a  dry-goods  merchant, 
is  the  oldest  merchant  in  his  line  in  Olney. 
He  established  business  here  in  August, 
1860,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  years  dur- 
ing the  war  he  has  carried  it  on  continuously 
since.  He  was  born  in  Berlin,  Prussia,  June  28, 
1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Christopher  and  Dorothy 
(Ilasslet)  Shultz.  The  first  thirteen  years  of  his 


life  were  spent  in  his  native  land,  and  he  then 
came  to  America  in  1850.  He  landed  at  New  Or- 
leans, and  with  his  parents  started  up  the  river. 
During  the  trip  the  father  died  of  cholera,  and 
three  years  later  the  mother  died  of  the  same  dis- 
ease. The  passage  across  the  Atlantic  had  been  a 
very  stormy  one,  and  all  of  the  rigging  of  the 
vessel  was  carried  away.  After  the  death  of  the 
father,  the  mother  continued  with  her  children  to 
Evansville,  and  in  the  spring  of  1851  went  to 
West  Salem,  Edwards  County,  where  she  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  Her  death 
occurred  in  Ohio,  in  1853.  Of  her  family  only 
two  are  now  living:  Charles,  of  this  sketch;  and 
Andrew,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Olney  Township. 

When  our  subject  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  he 
began  life  for  himself,  and  has  since  been  depen- 
dent upon  his  owu  resources,  so  that  whatever  has 
been  his  success,  it  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  ef- 
forts. He  worked  on  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road until  its  completion,  after  which  he  came  to 
Olney  with  Mr.  Darling,  and  was  connected  with 
an  eating-house  in  this  place  for  five  years.  In 
this  way  he  acquired  some  capital,  after  which  lie 
opened  a  grocery  store.  Since  that  time  he  has 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  business  in- 
terests of  Olney,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  its 
representative  citizens.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  was  com- 
missioned sutler  of  the  regiment,  which  position 
he  held  for  about  three  years.  During  that  time 
he  made  $40,000,  but  lost  one-fourth  of  it. 

On  the  30th  of  March,  1861,  Mr.  Shultz  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  Gaddy,  who 
was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  111.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  Gaddy.  Eight  children  were 
born  of  their  union,  who  are  yet  living,  and  they 
have  lost  two.  Ida  May,  the  eldest,  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  months;  Nettie  is  the  wife  of  Edward 
Eence,  a  jeweler  of  Olney;  the  others  are  Charles, 
Bertha,  Annie,  Winnefred,  Edward  (who  died  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  months),  Arthur,  Harry  and 
Cleveland. 

Mr.  Shultz  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  wife  holds  membership  with  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and 
has  served  as  Alderman  of  the  city  for  two  years. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


365 


He  has  also  held  other  offices,  the  duties  of  which 
he  has  discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 
Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  and  be- 
longs to  the  various  Masonic  bodies  of  Olney.  He 
now  carries  on  a  seed  store,  which  is  situated  near 
the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  depot,  and  is  doing  a  good 
business.  Besides  this  he  owns  some  good  land, 
including  one  farm  of  eighty  acres  and  another  of 
forty.  Mr.  Shultz  has  long  been  a  resident  of  Ol- 
ney. and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  much  of  its 
growth  and  development. 


JOHN  HILL  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  Preston  Township,  Richland 
County.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and 
^__  eighty  acres  of  arable  land  on  section  35, 
and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the 
owner  to  be  a  man  of  thrift  and  enterprise.  He 
claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth 
having  occurred  near  Springfield,  Clarke  County, 
on  the  19th  of  December,  1857.  His  father,  George 
Hill,  was  bom  in  England,  but  when  about  twen- 
ty-eight years  of  age  came  to  America,  crossing 
the  broad  Atlantic,  and  landing  in  New  York. 
The  family  located  in  Ohio,  and  there  Mr.  Hill 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  His  busi- 
ness career  was  a  successful  one,  and  he  gained  a 
comfortable  competency.  Before  leaving  Eng- 
land, he  married  Sarah  Jackland,  also  a  native 
of  that  country,  and  unto  them  were  born  eight 
children,  as  follows;  Sarah,  Mary,  Annie,  Rebecca, 
John,  William,  George  (who  is  now  deceased), 
and  Hannah. 

It  was  in  1865  that  the  father  of  this  family 
came  with  his  wife  and  children  to  Illinois  and 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Preston  Township,  where 
our  subject  now  resides.  He  there  made  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  17th  of 
March,  1886.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Mexburg  Cemetery,  in  Preston  Township.  His 
wife,  who  survived  him  a  few  years,  passed  away 


March  1,  1889,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of 
her  husband.  A  beautiful  monument  has  been 
erected  to  their  memory.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Free  Methodist  Church,  and  were  highly  re- 
spected people. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  eight  years  of  his  life 
in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  then  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  at  intervals  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority,  and  then  started  out  in 
life  for  himself.  He  now  owns  the  old  homestead 
where  his  father  first  located,  and  it  is  now  a  well- 
improved  and  valuable  farm.  The  fields  are  well 
tilled.  There  are  good  buildings  upon  the  place, 
and  all  the  accessories  and  conveniences  of  a 
model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century.  In  con- 
nection with  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  Mr.  Hill 
is  also  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

In  his  political  views,  our  subject  is  a  Democrat, 
having  supported  that  party  since  he  has  attained 
to  man's  estate.  However,  he  has  never  sought  or 
desired  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  orrico, 
nevertheless,  he  manifests  a  commendable  interest 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity and  its  upbuilding,  and  gives  his  support  to 
all  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public  bene- 
fit. His  thorough  understanding  of  his  business 
in  all  its  details  makes  it  a  successful  one. 


i'LBERT  S.  ROBINS,  a  well-known  and 
WliM  leading  farmer  of  Fox  Township,  Jasper 
County,  who  owns  and  operates  ninety 
acres  of  land  on  sections  9  and  15,  is  a 
native  of  the  Hoosier  State.  He  was  born  in 
Shelby  County,  Ind.,  May  28,  1847,  and  comes  of 
a  family  of  Scotch  origin.  His  grandfather  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Mexican  War.  His  father,  Regin 
Robins,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  wedded  Mary  A. 
Wingate.  Previously  he  had  been  married,  his 
first  wife  having  been  Harriet  Boyd.  By  that  union 
were  born  two  children:  Emily,  who  died  in  1860, 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  Samuel  K.,  who  died  in  November,  1875.  The 
children  born  unto  the  parents  of  our  subject  were 
Albert  S.;  James  B.,  a  farmer  residing  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Fox  Township;  Martha  K.,  wife  of 
Thomas  Cohill,  a  farmer  of  Fox  Township;  and 
Elisha  F.,  who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in 
the  same  locality.  The  father  of  this  family  re- 
moved from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  1822,  and  became 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Shelby  County,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  1857.  He  then  came  to 
Jasper  County,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  what 
was  then  St.  Marie  Township,  but  is  now  Fox 
Township.  Here  he  purchased  an  unimproved 
tract  of  land  on  section  14.  There  were  only  five 
families  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  entire  coun- 
ty was  yet  largely  undeveloped  and  unimproved. 
Mr.  Robins  was  called  to  his  final  home  February 
13,  1876,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  Bethel 
Cemetery.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Methodist  Church.  His  widow  still  survives  him 
and  makes  her  home  in  Jasper  County. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject,  which  were 
passed  under  the  parental  roof  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads.  He  came  with  the  family  to  Illi- 
nois when  ten  years  of  age,  and  in  order  to  acquire 
an  education  he  had  to  walk  three  and  a-half  miles 
to  and  from  school.  This  community  furnished 
many  soldiers  for  the  late  war,  and  among  the 
brave  boys  in  blue  was  our  subject,  who,  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  enlisted  February  14,  1865,  as  a  pri- 
vate of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into  service 
at  Camp  Butler,  and  from  there  sent  to  Tennessee. 
On  the  18th  of  September,  following,  he  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Nashville,  and,  going  to  Springfield, 
there  received  an  honorable  discharge 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Robins  returned  to 
his  home  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  he 
had  attained  to  man's  estate.  For  several  years 
after  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  rented 
land.  In  1870,  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm, 
which  he  operated  for  a  few  years,  and  then  again 
rented  in  1881.  In  that  year  he  purchased  prop- 
erty in  West  Liberty,  where  he  made  his  home 
from  1881  until  1886.  Coming  into  possession, 
by  purchase,  of  fifty  acres  of  laud  on  section  15, 


Fox  Township,  he  located  upon  the  farm  which 
has  since  been  his  home,  and  began  its  further  de- 
velopment. He  now  has  ninety  acres  of  rich  land, 
well  improved  and  highly  cultivated. 

Mr.  Robins  has  been  twice  married.  On  Christ- 
mas Day  of  1867,  Emily  F.  Brothers  became  his 
wife,  and  unto  them  was  born  one  child,  Etta  M., 
now  the  wife  of  George  Mosgrove,  a  farmer  of 
Fox  Township.  The  mother  died  August  31, 1870, 
and  on  the  4th  of  April,  1874,  Mr.  Robins  wedded 
Miss  Sarah  A.  Brothers,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
Five  children  grace  their  union,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Oscar,  Ollie,  Orin,  Fannie  and  Martha. 

Since  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Robins  has 
been  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  its 
principles.  He  manifests  considerable  interest  in 
political  affairs,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
public  offices.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  also  belongs  to 
the  Methodist  Church.  Public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  public 
affairs,  and  gives  his  support  to  those  enterprises 
which  are  calculated  to  benefit  the  community  and 
aid  in  its  upbuilding.  In  this  locality  he  and  his 
family  arc  widely  known  and  highly  respected. 


J"  /  OHN  HIGGINS  GUNN,  Police  Justice,  real- 
estate,  insurance,  loan  and  collection  agent 
of  Olney,  is  one  of  the  very  oldest  of  the 
__  '  surviving  pioneer  business  men  of  this  city, 
and  one  of  its  most  highly  respected  citizens.  A 
native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Portsmouth, Sciota 
County,  on  the  3d  of  June,  1826,  and  was  the 
sixth  child  of  Havilla  and  Delia  (Higgins)  Gunn. 
His  father  was  born  in  Waterbury,  Conn.,  in  1786, 
and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Gunn.  The  Gunn  fam- 
ily of  which  our  subject  is  a  member  is  one  of  the 
old  and  representative  families  of  New  England.  In 
his  youth  Havilla  Gunu  removed  to  Virginia  and 
came  thence  to  Illinois  in  1806.  He  located  in 
Wabash  Count}',  but  soon  afterward  removed  to 
Portsmouth,  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  in  1820 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


367 


to  Miss  Delia  Higgins,  a  native  of  the  Genesee  Val- 
ley, N.  Y.  He  was  engaged  in  the  tinware  busi- 
ness and  continued  to  reside  in  Portsmouth  until 
1835,  when  he  removed  to  Wabash  County,  111., 
and  effected  a  permanent  settlement  at  what  is 
now  the  village  of  Lancaster,  of  which  he  was  the 
founder.  He  opened  a  general  store  at  that  place 
and  carried  on  an  extensive  business  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Gunn's  family  consisted  of  seven  sons  and 
four  daughters,  of  whom  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters are  living,  namely:  John  II.,  of  Olney;  George, 
a  merchant  of  Flora,  Clay  County,  111.;  Daniel, 
Postmaster  of  Sulphur  Springs,  Tex.,  where  he  has 
resided  and  held  the  position  for  the  past  twenty 
years;  Mrs.  Maria  Stanley,  of  Bone  Gap;  Amanda, 
wife  of  John  H.  Roberts,  of  Olney;  and  William,who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war  and  is  now  in  the 
railroad  employ  in  Emporia,  Kan.  Those  deceased 
were  Zinas,  Stephen  S.,  Samuel  H.,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Smith  and  Elizabeth. 

In  1841  Havilla  Gunn  opened  the  first  store  in 
Olney  and  placed  it  under  the  care  of  his  sons, 
Samuel  H.  and  John  II.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he 
removed  to  Olney.  where  he  passed  the  declining 
years  of  his  life.  He  and  his  sons  established  and 
carried  on  several  different  mercantile  houses  at 
the  same  time  in  various  towns  in  southern  Illi- 
nois, and  also  carried  on  an  extensive  business  in 
buying  and  shipping  farm  produce.  They  also 
killed  and  packed  pork  and  bought  dressed  hogs 
for  packing.  In  early  days  all  their  produce 
was  shipped  south  by  flatboats,  principally  to  New 
Orleans.  On  the  completion  of  the  railroads  in 
this  section  of  the  State,  shipments  were  diverted 
to  the  North  and  East. 

Mr.  Guun,Sr.,  was  a  Whig  in  early  life  and  later 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife,  with  many  of  their 
children,  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  His  wife  died  in  1870  and  he  passed 
away  in  1867,  when  nearly  eighty-two  years  of 
age.  He  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise,  possessed 
superior  business  ability  and  enjoyed  the  reputa- 
tion of  an  upright,  honorable  man,  with  a  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances. 

John  H.  Gunn  came  to  Olney  in  1841,  when 
but  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  was  associated  with 


his  older  brother,  Samuel  H.,  in  the  management 
of  their  father's  branch  store  in  this  place,  which 
was  carried  on  under  the  name  of  H.Gunn  &  Sous. 
In  1853  Samuel  H.  withdrew  and  the  business  was 
carried  on  by  three  brothers,  Stephen  S.,  Zinas 
and  John  H.,  but  under  the  original  firm  name 
until  1866,  when,  the  father  having  died,  the  name 
was  changed  to  Gunn  Bros.,  and  so  continued 
until  1876,  when  business  reverses  overtook  the 
house  and  it  went  into  bankruptcy.  After  the 
affairs  of  the  firm  of  Gunn  Bros,  were  settled 
up,  John  H.  Gunn  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  John  H.  Roberts,  as  general  mer- 
chants, under  the  firm  name  of  Roberts  &  Gunn, 
which  connection  continued  until  1886,  when  it 
was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  On  retiring 
from  merchandising  Mr.  Gunn  engaged  in  his  pres- 
ent business. 

In  April,  1888,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
Police  Magistrate  to  fill-  a  vacancy,  and  having 
served  until  the  close  of  that  term  he  was  re- 
elected  in  April,  1891,  for  a  term  of  four  years, 
being  the  present  incumbent. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  1847,  Mr.  Gunn  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Danville,  111.,  with  Miss 
Leah  B.,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Rowland.  She  was 
born  in  Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
her  youth  with  her  parents,  making  her  home  at  first 
in  Champaign  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gunn  lost 
six  children  in  childhood  and  have  two  daughters 
yet  living.  Sarah  Adeline  is  now  the  wife  of  W. 
C.  White,  who  is  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
Shawneetown,  111.  Fannie  is  the  wife  of  H.  C. 
Victor,  of  Lincoln,  Neb. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  and  daughters  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  has  been  actively  identified  with  that  church 
nearly  all  of  his  mature  life  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Trustees  for  forty  years,  the 
greater  part  of  which  time  he  has  been  Chairman 
of  the  Board.  In  1876  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  in  Baltimore,  Md.  He  has 
also  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Method- 
ist Sunday-school,  of  which  he  has  served  as  Super- 
intendent for  upwards  of  thirty  yearsa  .d  has  been 
influential  in  its  successful  management.  Socially, 
Mr.  Gunn  is  a  prominent  Mason  and  has  taken  the 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


highest  degree,  the  thirty -second.  He  is  a  charter 
member  of  several  of  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Olney, 
in  which  he  has  served  officially.  He  belongs  to 
Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Richland 
Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  Olney  Council  No.  55, 
R. &  M.S.;  Gorin  Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T.;  also 
to  Salem  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.;  and  to  Olney 
Chapter  No.  100,  O.  E.  S.  Mrs.  Gunn  is  a  member 
of  the  last-named  lodge.  Our  subject  is  also  con- 
nected with  the  Ohio  Southern  Consistory  of  Cin- 
cinnati, the  highest  body  known  in  Masonry,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Masonic  Grand  Chapter, 
of  which  he  has  been  Grand  Chaplain  three  years. 
Mr.  Gunn  has  been  long  and  prominently  con- 
nected with  the  business,  social  and  church  inter- 
ests of  Olney  and  is  recognized  as  a  man  of  ster- 
ling worth,  to  whom  the  highest  respect  is  due. 


ETER  FRANKE  is  proprietor  of  the  pioneer 
drug  store  of  Newton  and  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Jas- 
per County.  He  is  widely  known,  and  as  a 
progressive  and  valued  citizen  of  the  community 
deserves  mention  in  this  volume.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  town  which  is  still  his  home,  having  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  February  22, 
1856.  His  father  was  Dr.  John  G.  Franke.  His 
mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Gertrude  Fischer. 
The  former  was  the  pioneer  physician  and  drug- 
gist of  Newton, and  our  subject  has  followed  in  his 
footsteps. 

Peter  Franke  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  UIP- 
der  the  parental  roof  and  acquired  his  primary  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools  of  Newton,  after 
which  he  attended  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College 
of  Teutopolis.  He  also  began  the  study  of  medicine 
and  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  College  of 
Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  Keokuk,Iowa.  While 
a  youth  he  was  employed  in  his  father's  drug 
store  in  Newton  during  his  vacations  and  leisure 
hours  and  has  there  continued.  From  1877  he  was 
in  charge  of  the  store,  and  after  his  father's  death 


in  1883  he  succeeded  to  the  business  as  proprie- 
tor. His  actual  experience  as  a  pharmacist,  not 
counting  his  term  of  apprenticeship,  covers  a  per- 
iod of  sixteen  years. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1877,  Mr.  Franke  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Mary  Bushong,  a  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Lizzie  Bushong.  She  is  a  native  of 
Maxburg,  Richland  County,  111.  Their  marriage 
was  celebrated  in  Newton,  and  two  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 
The  latter,  Lola  May,  is  now  aged  seven  years,  and 
the  former,  George  Edward,  is  a  little  lad  of  three 
summers.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  well- 
known  people  of  this  community,  their  home  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality,  and  they  hold  a  high  posi- 
tion in  social  circles.  Their  friends  are  very  num- 
erous. 

In  politics  Mr.  Franke  is  independent.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  other  interests,  he  is  the  owner  of  a 
good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  situated  about  one  and 
a-half  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Newton.  In  his  busi- 
ness career  lie  has  been  eminently  successful.  He 
is  enterprising  and  energetic,  and  by  his  upright 
dealing  and  courteous  treatment  of  his  customers 
he  has  secured  a  liberal  patronage,  which  he  well 
merits. 


R.  STEPHEN  STEVENS,  SR.,  a  retired 
physician  now  residing  on  section  18, 
Granville  Township,  Jasper  County,  was 
born  in  the  County  of  Leeds,  Province  of 
Ontario,  on  the  2d  of  December,  1807,  and  is  a  son 
of  Uriah  and  Myrhana  (Gilbert)  Stevens.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  In  the  family  were  five  children, 
who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  the 
eldest  being  our  subject.  The  others  are  Har- 
mon, Uriah  G.,  Myrhana  and  Eunice.  The  fa- 
ther of  this  family  was  a  doctor  by  profession. 
His  death  occurred  in  the  year  1849,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  in  1871.  Only  two  of  the  family  are 
now  living,  Stephen  and  Eunice. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


369 


Dr.  Stevens,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  a  farm, 
and  attended  the  district  schools.  Being  imbued 
with  a  desire  to  enter  the  medical  profession,  he 
studied  with  his  father,  and  entered  upon  his  prac- 
tice when  twenty-three  years  of  age.  However, 
he  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until  1835, 
and  in  connection  with  his  practice  also  carried  on 
farming.  He  remained  in  Canada  until  1817, 
when  he  went  to  Harrison  County,  Ky.,  with  his 
parents,  making  that  place  his  home  until  January, 
1836,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois.  He  took  up 
his  residence  in  Champaign  County,  near  Homer. 
The  trip  Westward  was  made  by  team.  On  reach- 
ing his  destination,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  of  improved  land  and  began  its  cultivation, 
carrying  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  connection 
with  his  medical  practice. 

The  year  previous  to  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  Dr. 
Stevens  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Ann 
Wheeler,  a  daughter  of  Zedock  and  Saphora  (Sco- 
lield)  Wheeler.  She  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
born  on  the  1st  of  August,  1810.  The  Doctor 
and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
five  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity.  Violet  is 
now  deceased;  Elizabeth  A.  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth;  Stephen  is  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
the  village  of  Yale;  Myrhana  is  deceased;  and 
Zeporah  completes  the  family. 

In  1838  the  Doctor  removed  with  his  family  to 
Edgar  County,  111.,  where  he  resided  until  1851, 
when  he  came  to  Jasper  Count)-,  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  old  village  of  Granville,  Gran- 
ville  Township.  He  first  purchased  some  town 
property,  but  soon  after  bought  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  unimproved  land  on  section  18, 
where  he  still  resides.  The  boundaries  of  his 
farm  he  has  extended  until  it  now  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  valuable  land, 
all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. On  locating  here  he  also  embarked  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  which  he  followed  suc- 
cessfully until  1890,  when,  at  the  age  of  eiglity- 
three  years,  he  abandoned  it  on  account  of  his 
eye-sight.  He  possessed  skill  and  ability,  and  had 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  coining  from  the 
country  all  around.  In  politics,  the  Doctor  has 


been  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  since  its 
organization.  He  held  the  office  of  Township 
Supervisor  in  an  early  day,  and  for  four  years  was 
Postmaster  of  the  village  of  Granville.  He  has 
ever  been  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen, 
and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  everything  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  Community  and  its 
upbuilding.  The  Doctor  is  now  living  retired, 
enjoying  a  well-earned  rest  after  a  busy  life 


HARLES  BUTLER,  Master  Mechanic  of  the 
Vandalia  Division  of  the  Terre  Haute  & 
Indianapolis  Railroad,  with  headquarters  at 
Efflngham,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born 
in  Fleming  County,  of  that  State,  on  the  1st  of 
Januaiy,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Caleb  and  Anna 
(Summers)  Butler,  who  were  also  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  eight  years  of  his 
life  in  the  State  of  his  birth  and  then  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  the  family  locating  in 
Terre  Haute,  where  he  received  a  common-school 
education.  In  1862  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, and  began  learning  the  blacksmith's  and  ma- 
chinist's trade  in  the  local  shops  of  the  company 
by  which  he  is  still  employed.  For  the  first  ten 
months  he  was  employed  in  the  company's  black- 
smith shops,  and  then  began  in  the  machine  shops. 
After  three  years  he  was  made  foreman  of  a  gang 
of  men,  and  later  served  as  roundhouse  foreman, 
being  employed  in  that  capacity  until  August  15, 
1873,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
Master  Mechanic  of  the  Vandalia  Division  of  that 
road,  with  headquarters  at  Effingham.  He  has  the 
entire  charge  of  the  line  from  Terre  Haute  to  St. 
Louis,  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  miles  being  under  his  supervision.  He  has 
also  one  hundred  men  under  his  charge  in  the 
Efflngham  shops  and  about  sixty  at  East  St.  Louis. 
In  the  former  place  the  work  is  largely  on  freight 
locomotive  repairs.  The  roundhouse  at  Kffingliain 
has  accommodation  for  sixteen  locomotives,  witli 


370 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


appropriate  shops  and  facilities  for  all  repair  work 
on  engines  and  running  gear  for  cars  and  coaches. 
This  is  the  terminus  for  all  freight  locomotives  for 
this  division. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  1868,  Mr.  Butler  was 
married  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Mary  Rob- 
erts. The  lady  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  her 
nativity.  She  was  born  in  Orange  County,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ruth  Roberts.  They 
have  .had  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters: Harry  C.,  Mabel  C.,  Elsie  R.  and  Edward  A. 
The  last-named  died  on  the  28th  of  March,  1893. 
The  three  older  children  are  attending  school. 

From  the  time  when  Mr.  Butler  went  to  Terre 
Haute  in  his  childhood  he  made  his  home  contin- 
uously in  that  city  until  his  removal  to  Effingham, 
in  August,  1873,  since  which  time  he  has  resided 
in  this  place.  While  a  resident  of  Terre  Haute  he 
enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  spring  of  1864.  Offer- 
ing his  services  to  the  Government  for  one  hun- 
dred days'  service,  he  was  assigned  to  Company  C, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-third  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  with  his  command  was  stationed  at  Bridge- 
port, Ala.,  where  he  served  the  term  of  his  enlist- 
ment. 

In  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Butler  is  a  suppor- 
ter of  the  Republican  party  and  keeps  himself  well 
informed  on  the  issues  and  questions  of  the  day. 
He  has  been  honored  with  some  public  offices,  and 
for  eight  years  has  served  as  Alderman  in  the 
City  Council  of  Effingham.  His  frequent  re-elec- 
tions attest  the  promptness  and  fidelity  with 
which  he  discharged  his  duties.  For  twelve  years 
he  has  been  one  of  the  efficient  members  of  the 
School  Board  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
as  President  of  that  body.  In  his  social  relations 
he  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason  and  holds  member- 
ship with  Terre  Haute  Lodge  No.  19,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.;  Terre  Haute  Chapter  No.  11,  R.  A.  M.;  Terre 
Haute  Council  No.  8;  and  Terre  Haute  Comman- 
dery  No.  16,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Eflingham  Lodge,  K.  H. 

Mr.  Butler  has  shown  an  active  interest  in  the 
municipal  affairs  of  Effingham  and  has  done  much 
good  service  in  all  these  years  of  his  connection 
with  the  School  Board  in  advancing  the  cause  of 
education,  He  has  thus  won  a  strong  hold  upon 


the  good-will  and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
He  is  thoroughly  skilled  in  his  business  and  pos- 
sesses good  executive  ability.  By  his  faithful  and 
able  discharge  of  duty  he  has  won  the  confidence 
of  the  management  of  the  road,  as  well  as  the  re- 
spect and  good-will  of  those  who  are  employed 
under  him. 


M.  SWAIM,  Sheriff  of  Richland 
County,  a  prominent  citizen  and  one  of 
the  old  settlers,  now  makes  his  home  in 
Olney.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  and 
was  born  in  Highland  County,  on  the  1 1th  of  April, 
1850,  being  a  son  of  George  and  Jane  (Mitchell) 
Swaim.  His  father  was  born  in  Vermont,  Decem- 
ber 8,  1814,  and  was  descended  from  an  old  New 
England  family.  In  1840,  he  removed  to  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  with  his  parents.  There  he  was 
married  and  engaged  in  blacksmithing  in  Price- 
town.  In  1855,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in 
Richland  County,  111.,  and  in  March  of  that  year 
located  in  Preston  Township.  Subsequently  he 
removed  to  Denver  Township,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  some  time,  and  at  length,  in  1887,  he 
removed  to  Olney,  where  he  still  makes  his  home. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  died  on  the  31st  of 
January,  1885. 

George  M.  Swaim,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  various  removals, 
and  remained  with  them  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  No  event  of  special  importance 
occurred  during  his  boyhood  and  youth,  but  after 
reaching  man's  estate  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ida 
Wolverton.  The  wedding  ceremony  of  the  young 
couple  was  performed  on  the  13th  of  March,  1887. 
The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth 
Wolverton,  and  a  native  of  Ohio,  her  birth  having 
occurred  in  Butler  County,  that  State. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen,  our  subject  embarked  in 
the  profession  of  teaching  school,  and  was  thus 
employed  for  fourteen  terms  in  Richland  County. 


. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


373 


Immediately  after  his  marriage,  lie  came  to  Olney, 
and  received  the  appointment  of  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  Sheriff  Wycloff  Higgins.  Mr.  Swaim  served 
in  that  capacity  until  the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  was 
elected  Sheriff,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the 
office  in  December  of  that  year.  His  previous 
duties  as  Deputy  Sheriff  made  him  well  fitted  for 
the  new  position,  which  lie  has  filled  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  warmly  advocates 
the  principles  of  that  party.  He  also  served  for 
five  terms  as  Supervisor  of  Denver  Township,  a 
fact  which  indicates  his  faithfulness  and  fidelity. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swaim  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child,  a  son,  Galen,  who  was  born 
in  Olney  on  the  12th  of  May,  1888.  Mr.  Swaim 
is  a  member  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140, 1.  0.  O.  F., 
and  of  Newell  Camp  No.  61,  M.  W.  A.  His  wife 
holds  membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  are  people  of  sterling  worth  and 
have  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  in 
this  community.  Our  subject  has  long  been  a  res- 
ident of  Richland  County  and  his  well-spent  life 
has  won  him  universal  respect. 


\f  OHN  KUSTER,  who  for  twenty  years  has 
been  so  well  and  favorably  known  to  the 
citizens  of  Richland  County  in  the  dis- 
charge of  official  duties  as  a  county  officer, 
is  a  native  of  Switzerland.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Interlacken,  canton  of  Berne,  November  20, 
1H20,  and  is  the  second  in  a  family  of  eleven  chil- 
dren whose  parents  were  John  Casper  and  Bar- 
bara (Sterchi)  Kuster.  The  parents  were  natives 
of  Switzerland  and  were  of  French  and  German 
descent.  The  father  was  born  in  1800.  He  be- 
came a  cabinet-maker  and  house-joiner  and  worked 
at  that  trade  for  a  few  years,  after  which  he  be- 
came a  soldier  in  the  Swiss  regular  army.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  country  to  Miss  Sterchi, 
who  was  born  in  April,  1797.  In  1833,  Mr.  Kus- 
ter, Si\,  emigrated  with  his  family  to  America,  and 

18 


settled  in  Minerva,  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  employed  at  his  trade  for  three  or  four  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Carroll  County,  of  the  same 
State,  where  he  continued  working  at  his  trade 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October,  1839. 
Of  the  children  of  the  Kuster  family,  two  died  in 
Switzerland  and  one  in  France,  while  the  family 
was  en  rout?  to  America.  Two  died  in  Illinois, 
soon  after  their  arrival  in  this  State,  and  one 
daughter  was  married  and  died  in  Illinois,  and 
of  the  eleven  children  only  two  are  yet  living — 
our  subject  and  his  brother  David,  who  is  living 
in  southern  Illinois. 

Mr.  Kuster  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church.  The  family  exhausted 
their  little  means  in  getting  to  America,  and  prior 
to  Mr.  Kuster's  death  he  had  been  unable  to  do 
more  than  barely  support  his  family.  After  his 
death  the  responsibility  of  the  care  of  the  wid- 
owed mother  and  five  younger  children  devolved 
upon  the  elder  son,  John.  He  had  learned  the 
trades  of  stonecutter  and  carpenter  in  early  life, 
and  by  his  exertions  along  these  lines  maintained 
the  family.  He  had  a  few  years'  schooling  in  his 
native  land,  but  on  coming  to  America  had  been 
obliged  to  aid  his  father  in  the  support  of  the  family, 
and  received  no  further  educational  advantages. 
However,  by  reading  and  self-culture  he  has  made 
himself  a  well-informed  man.  In  1841,  he  emi- 
grated with  his  mother  and  the  younger  children 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what  is  now  German 
Township,  Richland  Count}';  later  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Preston  Township,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  1846,  Mr.  Kuster 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Peebles,  who  was  born  in  Hart 
County,  Ky.,May  19,  1819,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Abram  Peebles.  She  lost  her  father  in  childhood, 
and  came  to  what  is  now  Richland  County,  111., 
with  her  mother  in  1838.  Mrs.  Kuster  died  leav- 
ing two  daughters,  both  now  deceased.  Margaret, 
the  elder,  became  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Taylor,  and 
died  in  December,  1877,  leaving  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  Their  father  died  in 
1881,  and  the  children  were  adopted  and  reared 
by  their  grandparents,  John  Kuster  and  his  wife, 
with  whom  they  have  found  a  good  home  and  the 


374 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


best  of  care.  Their  names  are  John  Henry,  Josiah 
and  Mary  Taylor.  The  second  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kuster,  Hannah  E.,  died  in  October,  1852. 
On  the  14th  of  Jun<>,  1879,  the  mother  died  sud- 
denly of  heart  disease. 

Mr.  Kuster  was  engaged  in  farming  until  the 
fall  of  1867,  when  he  was  elected  Treasurer  of 
Richland  County,  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his 
office  in  January,  1868.  He  then  came  to  Olney, 
and  has  since  made  his  home  in  this  city.  On  the 
2d  of  April,  1882,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Whittaker,  widow  of  David 
Whittaker,  and  a  daughter  of  Gabriel  \V.  Stewart. 
The  lady  was  born  in  New  York,  and  resided  in 
Connecticut  and  Kentucky  before  coming  to 
Olney  in  1868.  She  is  an  educated  and  cultured 
woman,  and  for  fourteen  years  was  a  popular  and 
successful  teacher  in  the  schools  of  this  city. 

After  his  election  to  the  office  of  County  Treas- 
urer, Mr.  Kuster  leased  his  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  but  retained  its  ownership  until  August, 
1891,  when  he  sold  it.  In  politics  he  is  a  Demo-  • 
crat.  His  first  official  position  was  that  of  Clerk 
of  Preston  Township,  which  he  held  for  nine  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  as  County 
Treasurer  he  was  re-elected  for  four  succeeding 
terms  of  two  years  each,  serving  in  that  office  for 
ten  consecutive  years.  He  was  also  Mayor  of 
Olney  two  years,  and  soon  after  leaving  the  Coun- 
ty Treasurer's  office  was  appointed  Deputy  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  under  Thomas 
Tippit,  which  office  he  filled  for  a  little  more  than 
ten  years,  giving  him  twenty  years  of  service  in 
county  offices.  He  retired  in  December,  1892. 
During  those  twenty  years  he  was  never  absent 
from  duty,  with  the  exception  of  three  weeks  when 
he  was  detained  at  home  by  sickness.  Mr.  Kuster 
is  also  School  Treasurer  for  township  No.  4  north, 
range  10  east,  and  has  held  that  position  contin- 
uously since  October,  1863,  covering  a  period  of 
thirty  years.  Previous  to  being  appointed  Treas- 
urer, he  had  been  Director  of  the  School  Board 
several  years. 

Mr.  Kuster  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Rich- 
land  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  Gorin  Command- 
ery  No.  14,  K.  T.;  also  of  the  Scottisli  Rite  and 


Mystic  Shrine  and  of  Olney  Chapter  No.  100, 
O.  E.  S.  He  has  been  Secretary  of  the  blue  lodge, 
chapter,  council  and  commandery  for  many 
3'ears  and  is  a  well-known  and  active  member  of 
that  order.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Peoria  Consis- 
tory of  Scottish  Rite  Masons.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life  our  subject  has  been  found  true  to  every 
trust,  public  and  private.  Upright  and  honorable, 
and  always  to  be  relied  on  to  perform  his  whole 
duty  without  fear  or  favor,  he  enjoys  in  an  un- 
usual degree  the  highest  esteem  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-citizens. 


AVID  F.  BASDEN,a  progressive  and  pub- 
lic-spirited farmer  residing  on  section  2, 
Claremont  Township,  Richland  County, 
has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  this 
community,  his  birth  having  occurred  December  1, 
1847,  on  the  old  homestead  in  the  first  brick  hous 
of  the  county.  That  home  was  erected  by  his 
grandfather,  Lott  Basden,  who  was  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  the  community.  With  his  family 
he  came  from  North  Carolina  to  Illinois,  and  dur- 
ing his  residence  here  served  as  one  of  the  fir 
County  Commissioners. 

Albert  G.  Basden,  the  father  of  our  subject,  wai 
born  in  what  is  now  Lawrence  County,  111.,  near 
the  present  town  of  Sumner,  and  came  with  his  fa- 
ther to  this  county  during  his  infancy.  He  mar 
ried  Catherine  Adams,  daughter  of  Dr.  Davic 
Adams,  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians  of  southern 
Illinois.  The  lady  was  a  native  of  New  Albany, 
Ind.  Mr.  Basden  was  the  only  son  in  a  family  of 
three  children,  and  after  his  marriage  located  or 
the  old  homestead,  of  which  he  became  the  owner 
by  purchasing  his  sisters'  interests.  There  he  car 
ricd  on  agricultural  pursuits,  built  a  nice  residence 
and  greatly  improved  the  place.  In  order  to  pro- 
vide his  children  better  educational  privileges,  he 
removed  to  Merom,  Ind.,  but  after  three  years  re- 
turned to  the  farm.  In  politics,  he  was  originally 
a  Whig,  but  on  the  dissolution  of  that  party  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


joined  the  new  Republican  party  and  became  a 
warm  advocate  of  its  men  and  measures.  He  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics  and  served 
as  a  delegate  to  the  county  and  State  conventions. 
Although  never  an  office-seeker,  he  was  frequently 
elected  to  positions  of  trust.  He  gave  his  sup- 
port to  all  worthy  enterprises,  and  the  cause  of 
education  found  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  was 
one  of  the  Trustees  of  Union  Christian  College  of 
Merom,  Ind.,  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and 
sterling  worth,  and  died  respected  by  all  who 
Knew  him,  November  9,  1889.  His  wife  is  still 
living,  and  makes  her  home  with  her  daughter  in 
S  umner. 

David  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
three  daughters,  who  lived  to  adult  age:  Lott, 
who  was  married  and  removed  to  Kansas,  living 
in  Winfield  until  his  death,  in  June,  1890;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  Prof.  Patterson,  of  West  New- 
ton, Ohio;  Andrew,  of  Ohio;  Abigail,  wife  of  W. 
F.  Hitter,  a  farmer  and  fruit-grower  of  Richlajid 
County;  William  A.,  who  follows  farming  near 
Fail-view,  III.;  and  Mary,  who  completes  the  fam- 

iiy- 

Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  where  his  birth 
occurred,  our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood.  His 
early  education,  acquired  in  the  common  schools, 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  Union  Chris- 
tian College,  and  when  his  education  was  com- 
pleted, lie  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  Clare- 
mont,  where  he  remained  for  a  year.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  returned  to  the  farm 
and  continued  with  his  father  until  after  he  had 
attained  his  majority.  After  his  marriage  he  lived 
on  the  old  homestead  for  three  years,  and  then 
took  up  his  residence  upon  the  farm  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  When  he  located  thereon  it 
was  a  tract  of  raw  prairie,  but  he  plowed  and 
planted  it  and  transformed  it  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields.  He  now  has  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
valuable  land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tri- 
bute. His  neat  and  tasty  residence,  good  barns 
and  outbuildings,  his  orchard  and  all  the  improve- 
ments upon  the  place  stand  as  monuments  to  his 
thrift  and  industry,  and  indicate  to  the  passer-by 
the  careful  supervision  of  the  owner. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1870,  in  Erie  County, 


Pa.,  Mr.  Basden  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Margaret  A.  /iegler,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  P.  Zieg- 
ler,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church.  She  was 
born  in  Noble  County,  Ind.,  'and  is  a  lady  of  su- 
perior education.  She  was  a  student  in  Wabash 
College  and  in  Union  Christian  College,  and  prior 
to  her  marriage  successfully  engaged  in  teaching. 
By  their  union  has  been  a  son,  Alva  R.,  who  aids 
in  carrying  on  the  home  farm.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  are 
people  whose  many  excellencies  of  character  have 
won  them  high  regard.  They  hold  an  enviable 
position  in  social  circles  where  true  worth  and  in- 
telligence secure  the  entrance  into  good  society. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Basden  has  been  a  stalwart  Repub- 
lican since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868. 


W.  BOWER  is  a  well-known  drug- 
gist  of  Olney,  Rich  land  County,  and  is 
manager  of  the  firm  of  N.  Kline  &  Co.  He 
is  an  energetic  and  enterprising  business  man,  and 
well  deserves  representation  in  the  histo^'  of  his 
native  county,  for  he  was  born  in  the  city  on  the 
30th  of  June,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Philip  P.  and 
Mary  (Dundore)  Bauer,  a  sketch  of  whom  is  given 
elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  native 
city,  no  event  of  special  importance  occurring  dur- 
ing his  boyhood.  His  primary  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  public  schools  of  Olney,  and  subse- 
quently he  pursued  a  course  of  study  in  the  North- 
western University  of  Naperville.  After  leaving 
the  university,  having  completed  his  education, 
he  entered  upon  his  business  career,  obtaining  the 
position  of  clerk  in  the  drug  store  of  his  brother 
William,  in  Olney,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
three  years,  from  1873  until  1876.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  went  to  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  and 
embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  the  same  line. 
He  continued  there  until  the  occurrence  of  the 


376 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cyclone  in  1877,  when  be  returned  to  Olney,  and 
the  same  year  opened  a  drug  store  in  this  place. 
He  continued  in  business  alone  for  several  years, 
but  at  length,  in  1882,  he  was  joined  by  Nicholas 
Kline,  and  the  existing  firm  of  N.  Kline  &  Co.  was 
formed.  Their  business  connection  has  covered  a 
period  of  eleven  years. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1876,  Mr.  Bower  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth 
Kline,  a  daughter  of  N.  and  Elizabeth  Kline. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  in  1865 
left  the  Buckeye  State  and  came  to  Olney,  where 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  was  celebrated. 
Both  are  members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Soci- 
ety. They  are  well  known  in  this  community,  and 
have  many  warm  friends  and  acquaintances,  who 
esteem  them  highly  for  their  many  excellencies  of 
character. 

Mr.  Bower  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and 
by  his  well-directed  efforts  and  practical  business 
methods  he  has  won  success.  In  addition  to  his 
store  he  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  im- 
proved farming  land  in  two  tracts,  one  of  sixty 
and  the  other  of  ninety  acres.  This  is  a  valuable 
property  and  yields  to  him  a  good  income.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Bower  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a 
practical  pharmacist  of  long  experience,  and  is 
highly  respected  by  his  fellow-citizens,  who  have 
known  him  from  childhood. 


•I?    A.  SMOTHERS,  the  efficient  Principal  of  the 
Effingham  city  schools,  and  one  of  the  highly 

L\\  respected  citizens  of  that  place,  has  been  con-  j 
nected  with  the  educational  interests  of  this  lo- 
cality since  September,  1888.  He  belongs  to  a 
profession  which  has  furnished  to  the  country- 
many  of  its  most  prominent  men.  A  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State,  he  was  born  in  Franklin 
County  on  the  4th  of  March,  1855.  His  parents 


were  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Birdsill)  Smothers, 
both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  Ohio.  They 
have  both  now  passed  away.  The  death  of  the 
father  occurred  when  our  subject  was  about  fifteen 
years  of  age,  and  his  mother  departed  this  life  in 
1889. 

Prof.  Smothers  spent  his  boyhood  days  under 
the  parental  roof.  His  earlier  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
in  which  he  lived  and  was  supplemented  by  a  course 
of  study  in  Central  College,  of  Ohio.  When  a  lad 
he  displayed  special  aptitude,  and  with  commend- 
able quickness  mastered  the  tasks  set  before  him. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  began  teaching,  be- 
ing first  employed  in  country  schools.  Soon  after- 
wards, however,  he  accepted  a  call  from  a  graded 
school  in  Harrisburgh,  Ohio.  There  he  remained 
engaged  in  teaching  for  five  years.  He  was  very 
successful,  but  on  the  expiration  of  that  period 
he  resigned  his  position  and  accepted  the  position 
of, Principal  of  the  public  schools  in  Altamont. 
There  the  succeeding  six  years  of  his  life  were 
passed.  He  then  came  to  Effingham,  where  he  ha 
since  resided. 

Prof.  Smothers    was    married  in  Effingham    on 
the  2d  of    January,    1883,  the  lad}'  of  his  choic 
being  Miss  Mattie  L.  Peters.     The  wedding  cer 
mony  was  performed  by  Rev.  Alfred  Bliss.     The 
lady  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  is 
daughter  of  Daniel  II.  and    Rowena  (lies)    Peter 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  four 
children:    Arthur  Elton,  now  eight  years  of   age 
William  Luther,  a  lad  of  six  years;  Edgar  Ray 
mond,   aged  four  years;   and   Isaac  Alonzo,  tin 
baby  of  two  years. 

Prof,  and  Mrs.  Smothers  hold  membership  wit 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  takeanactn 
interest  in  its  success  and  growth.  They  are  pec 
pie  of  sterling  worth  and  rank  high  in  social  circle 
where  true  ability  and  intelligence  are  received  as 
the  passports  into  good  society.  In  his  political 
affiliations  Mr.  Smothers  is  independent.  Soci- 
ally, he  is  a  member  of  Altamont  Lodge  Nc 
533,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Black  Diamond  Camj 
M.  W.  A.  In  the  line  of  his  profession  our  sut 
ject  has  certainly  had  a  successful  career.  Begin- 
ning his  work  in  a  country  school,  his  ability  soon 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


brought  him  a  call  to  a  graded  school,  and  he  has 
since  risen  step  by  step.  He  is  indeed  a  successful 
educator.  Thorough  and  earnest,  his  love  of  the 
work  has  led  him  to  labor  untiringly  in  its  interest 
and  he  has  therefore  won  for  himself  an  enviable 
reputation  and  the  commendation  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


QUIRE  JAMES  LEAMON,  an  extensive 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Granville  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County,  residing  on  section  9, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State.  He  was 
born  in  Licking  County,  near  Columbus.  February 
21,  1824.  His  father,  John  Leamou,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  was  of  Scotch  descent.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  came  to  America  in  the  Brit- 
ish army  during  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was 
then  only  sixteen  years  old.  During  the  struggle 
he  was  captured  by  the  American  soldiers  and  for 
some  time  was  held  a  prisoner.  By  trade  he  was 
a  weaver.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  school 
teacher  in  his  younger  days,  but  followed  farming 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  On  leaving  the  Old 
Dominion  in  1818,  he  went  to  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  making  the  trip  by  wagon.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  school  land  a  few  years  afterwards,  and  at 
it  was  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber,  he 
began  clearing  away  the  trees,  preparatory  to 
developing  a  farm.  He  built  a  small  log  house, 
and  that  cabin  continued  to  be  his  home  until  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  In  politics,  he  was 
originally  a  Whig,  and  on  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  joined  its  ranks.  He  held  the 
office  of  Constable  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
was  also  Township  Trustee.  His  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Hannah  Postlcwait,  and  died  in 
1848.  They  had  ten  children:  Jacob,  who  died  in 
August,  1891;  William,  who  died  in  December, 
1890;  Silas,  who  died  in  1830;  Sarah,  wife  of  Eli- 
jah Clark,  of  Bell  Air,  111.;  James,  of  this  sketch; 
Nancy,  who  is  the  widow  of  John  Weaver,  and  re- 


sides in  Iowa;  Mary,  who  died  in  April,  1890;  Liz- 
zie, wife  of  George  F.  Jennewin,  of  Green  up,  111.; 
Isaac,  who  is  a  hotel-keeper  of  Ft.  Dodge,  Iowa; 
and  Sylvester,  an  attorney-at-law  of  Hartford. 
Ohio. 

Mr.  Leamon,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
passed  his  boyhood  days  quietly  upon  his  father's 
farm.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools,  which  convened  in  a  log  schoolhouse. 
He  attended  about  three  months  in  the  winter 
season,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the  year  aided 
in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  To  his  father  he  gave 
the  benefit  of  his  services  until  about  twenty-four 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. He  went  first  to  Louisiana,  where  he  lived 
for  two  years,  chopping  wood  by  the  cord  most  of 
the  time.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
turned to  his  old  home,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  for  a  year.  He  then  rented 
land  until  1852,  when  he  came  to  Jasper  County, 
111.  He  had  previously  here  purchased  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  9,  Gran- 
ville Township.  The  place  was  almost  entirely 
unimproved.  There  was  a  small  log  house  and  a 
few  acres  had  been  placed  under  the  plow.  Mr. 
Leamon  still  owns  his  original  purchase,  and  as  his 
financial  resources  have  increased  he  has  added  to 
it  from  time  to  time,  until  his  landed  possessions 
now  aggregate  three  hundred  acres.  This  is  valu- 
able land  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
In  addition  to  the  improvement  of  his  farm,  he 
also  carries  on  stock-raising  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  has  a  good  grade  of  horses  and  cattle 
upon  his  place. 

Mr.  Leamon  has  been  twice  married.  In  1851, 
he  married  Miss  Martha  Holt,  whose  death  occurred 
the  following  year.  In  1853,  he  was  joined  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Wheeler,  and  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  all 
of  whom  are  yet  living:  Mary,  Louisa,  Albert, 
Oscar,  Arthur,  Clarence,  Adrain  and  Burton. 

Mr.  Leamon  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  yet 
has  found  time  to  devote  to  public  interests.  He 
has  served  his  fellow-townsmen  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  since  1856,  with  the  exception  of  four  years. 
He  was  Township  Treasurer  for  fifteen  years,  was 
Supervisor  for  four  years,  also  served  as  School 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Trustee,  and  has  been  School  Director  for  the  past 
fifteen  years.  The  prompt  and  able  manner  with 
which  he  ever  discharges  his  duties  has  led  to  his 
long  retention  in  office,  and  won  him  the  commen- 
dation of  all  concerned.  He  is  upright  and  hon- 
orable in  all  things,  and  has  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  In  politics,  he  has 
been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
since  the  time  when  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont. 

Mr.  Leamon  lias  been  the  architect  of  his  own 
fortune.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  in  life 
is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  During  the  first 
nine  years  after  his  arrival  here  he  engaged  in 
school  teaching  during  the  winter  season,  and  in 
the  summer  months  engaged  in  breaking  prairie. 
He  has  labored  long  and  earnestly,  and  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  indefatigable  industry,  his  good  man- 
agement and  business  ability,  he  has  acquired  a 
handsome  competence,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  community.  For  over 
forty-one  years  he  has  made  his  home  in  this  lo- 
cality, and  well  deserves  representation  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  county,  in  whose  growth  and  develop- 
ment he  has  ever  borne  his  part. 


HE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK  of  Olney 
was  incorporated  December  5,  1865,  with 
an  authorized  capital  of  $100,000  and  was 
opened  January  9,  1866.  Henry  Spring  was  the 
first  President, and  Andrew  Darling  Cashier.  The 
Board  of  Directors  was  composed  of  the  following 
gentlemen:  William  Newell,  M.  O.  Kean,  H.  Hay- 
ward,  J.  H.  Parker,  Jacob  Kramer  and  Robert 
Byers.  Mr.  Spring  served  as  President  until 
1881,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Aden  Knoph, 
who  has  since  filled  that  position.  Henry  Marshall 
succeeded  Mr.  Darling  as  Cashier  in  1872,  filling 
that  office  until  1877,  when  J.  II.  Senseman  was 
made  Cashier.  He  was  succeeded  by  R.  R.  Byers 
in  1882,  who  served  until  1883,  when  R.  N.  Stot- 
ler,"the  present  efficient  Cashier,  was  chosen. 


About  1877,  on  account  of  excessive  taxes,  the 
capital  of  the  bank  was  reduced  to  $50,000,  at  which 
it  has  since  stood.  In  December,  1885,  the  bank's 
charter  expired  and  was  renewed.  The  present 
officers  are  Aden  Knoph,  President;  R.  N.  Stotler, 
Cashier;  and  Thomas  Ratcliff,  John  Wolf,  Daniel 
Gaffner,  C.  F.  Foskett  and  Aden  Knoph,  Board  of 
Directors.  The  bank  has  had  a  prosperous  career, 
during  the  past  ten  years  especially,  its  deposits 
having  trebled  in  amount  in  that  time,  being 
now  fully  $200,000.  The  surplus  at  this  writing 
amounts  to  $21,000,  and  the  business  of  the  bank 
is  constantly  increasing.  The  management  lias 
been  conservative, yet  enterprising,  and  its  officers 
enjoy  to  the  fullest  extent  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  the  patrons  of  the  bank,  which  under 
its  judicious  management  has  won  a  foremost 
place  among  the  leading  financial  institutions  of 
southern  Illinois. 


DWAKD  SPRING  is  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Spring  Bros.,  of  Olney,  dealer 
/I1 — ^  in  wool  and  seeds.  He  is  a  native  of  this 
city  and  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  and  Caroline  A. 
(Mount)  Spring.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  30th 
of  July,  1852.  His  boyhood  days  were  quietly 
passed.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  city  and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  a  practi- 
cal business  life.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  produce  business,  in  company 
with  James  Ilollister.  They  formed  a  partnership 
under  the  firm  name  of  Ilollister  <fe  Spring,  and 
that  connection  was  continued  steadity  until  May, 
1888,  when  our  subject  bought  out  his  partner's 
interest  in  the  business  and  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  his  younger  brother,  Harry  B. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1873,  Mr.  Spring  wa 
married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Kat 
Rnvenscraft,  a  daughter  of   the  Rev.  W.  E.   Rav- 
ensemft.     Three  children    blessed    the    union    of 
this  worthy  couple,  of  whom  two  are  yet  living, 
son  and  daughter,  Lawrence  E.  and  Ethel  Madge. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379 


Helen,  the  third  child,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 
The  parents  are  well-known  people  of  Olney  and 
hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Spring  is  a  supporter 
of  Republican  principles,  but  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  holding  membership  with 
Marmion  Lodge  No.  52,  K.  P.;  he  also  belongs  to 
Olney  Camp  No.  383,  M.  W.  A. 

Harry  B.  Spring,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Spring  Bros.,  and  the  youngest  surviving  son  of 
Henry  and  Caroline  A.  Spring,  was  born  in  Olney, 
on  the  18th  of  November,  1860.  He  also  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  but  later  be- 
came a  student  in  the  Illinois  State  University,  in 
Champaign,  where  his  education  was  completed. 
He  entered  upon  his  present  business  in  1888,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother  Edward, 
as  above  stated. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1880,  Harry  Spring  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Victoria  Eckenrode, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  Olney.  Our  subject  exer- 
cises his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Re- 
publican partj',  and  is  a  member  of  Marmion 
Lodge  No.  52,  K.  P.  The  gentlemen  comprising 
the  firm  of  Spring  Bros,  are  enterprising  and 
energetic  business  men,  and  by  their  industrious 
and  well-directed  efforts  have  succeeded  in  build- 
ing up  a  good  trade.  They  are  now  enjoying  a 
liberal  and  constantly  increasing  patronage,  which 
is  well  deserved.  Upright  and  honorable  in 
all  their  dealings,  they  have  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  entire  community. 


iii    i  i    ®| 


/OHN  HENRY  UPTMOR,  Su.,  who  is  now 
deceased,  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of 
Teutopolis  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
that  town.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Vechta,  in  the  Duchy  of  Oldenburg,  Germany, 
the  year  of  his  birth  being  1801.  His  parents 


m 


were  John  Henry  and  Anna  N.  (Nordlohne)  Upt- 
mor.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  som'e  time  in  his  native  country.  He 
was  married  in  Germany  to  Miss  Dependenuer, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  of  whom  two  are 
are  yet  living:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Theodore 
Prumer,  a  resident  of  California;  and  Philomina,- 
wife  of  J.  B.  Schueiderian,  who  is  living  in  Kan- 
sas. Clement  died  in  Texas  in  middle  life,  and 
Henry  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

In  1834  Mr.  Uptmor  emigrated  with  his  family 
to  America  and  settled  in  Cincinnati,  where  the 
death  of  his  wife  occurred.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  in  that  city  for  five  years,  after  which,  in 
1839,  he  joined  his  brother  Clement  and  a  colony 
of  his  German  fellow-citizens  and  came  to  Illinois. 
There  were  seven  of  the  original  party  that  first 
came,  but  the  colony  numbered  about  fifty  fami- 
lies, the  others  coming  later.  Some  settled  in 
what  is  now  Teutopolis,  founding  that  town; 
others  located  in  the  country  adjoining  and  laid 
the  foundation  of  what  is  now  a  large  and  pros- 
perous German  community.  John  H.  Uptmor  built 
a  log  house,  the  first  on  the  present  site  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Teutopolis,  and  for  several  years  worked 
at  his  trade  of  shoemaking.  Subsequently,  he 
abandoned  that  occupation, however, and  removed 
to  a  farm  situated  a  few  miles  north  of  the  village, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1864  Mr.  Uptmor  wedded  Miss  Mary  Anna, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Adelaide  Yohring.  The 
lady  was  born  in  Bersenburck,  Hanover,  and  came 
to  America  with  her  family  in  1857.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  marriage,  but  only  one  is 
now  living,  John  Henry,  who  was  born  July  18, 
1867.  He  is  married  and  is  now  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Teutopolis.  A  sketch  of  his  life 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Mr. Uptmor  continued  farming  until  1873,  when 
he  returned  to  the  village  of  which  he  had  been 
the  founder,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  June 
5,  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  and  a-half  years. 
He  was  a  devout  Catholic,  as  are  the  members  of 
his  family.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat.  An 
industrious  and  upright  man,  he  led  a  bus3-  and 
useful  life  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  his  fellow-citizens  in  a  marked  degree.  As  his 
means  permitted  he  aided  liberally  in  the  erection 
of  St.  Francis'  Church,  St.  Joseph's  College  and 
other  religious  and  educational  institutions  of  his 
town.  His  widow  survives  him  and  is  still  a  resi- 
dent of  Teutopolis. 


1  >•[•=!_ 


THOMAS  TIPPIT,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  in  the  breeding  of 
standard-bred  trotting  horses,  now  resides 
in  the  city  of  Olney.  He  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  of  Richland  County,  having  been  born  in 
Olney  Township  on  the  6th  of  June,  1851.  His 
parents  were  Matthew  L>.  and  Sarah  (Ellingsworth) 
Tippit.  His  boyhood  days  were  quietly  passed  on 
his  father's  farm.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
during  the  winter  season,  and  in  the  summer 
months  labored  in  the  fields.  He  thus  became  fa- 
miliar with  the  occupation  which  he  has  followed 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  is  a 
practical  and  progressive  farmer,  and  for  thirteen 
years  he  has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
still  owns  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  valu- 
able land,  and  with  the  exception  of  ten  acres  the 
entire  amount  lies  within  the  city  limits  of  Olney. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  standard-bred 
trotting  horses.  He  has  followed  this  business  for 
five  years,  and  is  the  owner  of  some  fine  horses. 
For  six  years,  from  1882  until  1888,  he  engaged 
in  breeding  draught  horses. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1877,  in  Preston  Town- 
ship, Richland  County,  Mr.  Tippit  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eva  Leaf,  who  was  born  in 
that  township,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Nancy  Leaf.  Her  parents  formerly  resided  in 
Ohio,  from  where  they  came  to  Illinois  in  1854. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tippit  have  been  born  four 
children,  as  follows:  George  Matthew,  Mabel  Anna, 
Albert  Volney  and  John  Edward  Thomas.  All 
were  born  in  Olney  and  are  still  with  their  parents. 

In  1880  Mr.  Tippit  was  elected  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  and  removed  to  the  city.  He  was 


re-elected  in  1884,  and  again  in  1888,  serving  in 
all  for  twelve  years.  His  long  service  in  that  po- 
sition well  indicates  his  fidelity  to  duty,  and  no 
higher  testimonial  to  his  faithfulness  could  be 
given  than  that  of  his  re-election.  By  his  ballot  he 
supports  the  Democratic  party,  and  in  political 
affairs  he  takes  quite  an  active  interest.  He  fre- 
quently attends  its  conventions,  and  is  one  of  the 
influential  delegates  to  the  same.  In  his  social 
relations  he  is  a  member  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.; 
Gorin  Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T.;  and  of  the 
Council.  He  also  holds  membership  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  of  Olnej-.  Mr.  Tippit  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Richland  County,  and  is 
well  known  to  its  citizens  as  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  upright  character.  He  therefore  has 
many  warm  friends  and  acquaintances. 


JOSEPH  PARTRIDGE,  Jr.,  is  Cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Ettingham,  and  a 
I  young  financier  of  unusual  ability,  whose  ex- 
perience as  cashier  and  sole  manager  of  a 
bank  began  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen.  He  is  the 
eldest  son  of  Joseph  and  Alice  (Smith)  Partridge, 
and  from  his  infancy  has  been  a  resident  ofEfling- 
ham.  He  was  born  in  Jewett,  111.,  December  29, 
1870,  and  was  brought  to  Efflngham  by  his  parents 
when  six  months  old.  At  the  age  of  four  years 
he  began  attending  the  public  schools  of  Efflngham, 
and  when  a  lad  of  ten  summers  he  became  a  stu- 
dent in  St.  Joseph's  College,  of  Teutopolis,  this 
county.  Two  years  later  he  was  prepared  for  ad- 
vancement and  was  sent  to  the  College  of  the 
Christian  Brothers,  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  took  a 
scientific  and  business  course  of  study.  From  that 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  June,  1885,  when 
in  his  fifteenth  year. 

On  returning  from  college,  Mr.  Partridge  was 
given  a  position  in  his  father's  bank  in  Effingliam, 
the  private  banking  house  of  Mr.  Partridge.  Be- 
ginning there  in  June,  1885,  he  was  soon  ad- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


381 


vanced  to  the  position  of  cashier,  and  after  Oc- 
tober, 1886,  had  sole  charge  of  the  bank  for  nearly 
four  years,  or  until  it  was  converted  into  the  First 
National  Bank.  When  the  latter  institution  was 
organized  he  was  made  cashier  and  has  since  con- 
tinuously served  in  that  capacity.  While  his  fath- 
er, the  President  of  the  bank,  visits  it  twice  a  day, 
the  entire  business  management  devolves  upon  the 
son,  whose  rare  success  and  prudent  management 
not  only  while  holding  his  present  position,  but 
while  cashier  of  the  former  bank,  entitle  him  to 
the  utmost  confidence  and  respect.  Since  the 
lapse  of  seven  months  after  the  private  bank  was 
opened  for  business,  the  cashier  has  had  sole  charge. 
The  success  of  the  institution  has  been  such  as  to 
reflect  credit  upon  its  management  and  to  prove 
very  satisfactory  to  its  stockholders.  Further 
mention  of  the  bank  is  made  on  another  page  of 
this  history. 

The  above  account  is  rather  a  remarkable  his- 
tory for  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  year's  of  age, 
and  the  prospect  is  certainly  favorable,  consider- 
ing his  good  natural  ability,  industry  and  good 
habits,  that  he  will  in  mature  years  win  a  fore- 
most place  among  the  prominent  financiers  of  his 
native  State.  Mr.  Partridge  is  also  a  stockholder 
and  director  in  the  Effingham  Manufacturing 
Company  and  also  in  the  Efh'ngham  Apple  Or- 
chard Company,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer.  He  is 
likewise  Treasurer  of  the  Effingham  Building  and 
Loan  Association  and  throughout  the  surrounding 
community  is  recognized  as  a  young  man  of  ster- 
ling worth  and  most  excellent  business  ability.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

An  incident  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Partridge  which 
is  deserving  of  perpetuation  and  which  he  will  un- 
doubtedly never  forget,  was  his  experience  with 
robbers.  It  happened  one  day  in  1891.  while 
the  Soldiers'  Reunion  was  being  held  in  Effing- 
ham  and  the  town  full  of  people,  that,  as  our  sub- 
feet  was  alone  behind  the  counter  of  the  bank,  two 
stfange  men  entered  and  immediately  covered 
the  cashier  with  large  revolvers.  Threatening  his 
life  if  he  made  an  alarm,  they  demanded  his 
money.  Taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and 
not  being  in  possession  of  a  weapon,  he  sprang  be- 


hind the  large  safe  door  that  stood  as  high  as  his 
head  and  drew  it  partly  to,  so  as  to  screen  him 
from  the  ruffians'  bullets,  and  then  yelled  for  help 
with  all  his  might.  The  robbers,  seeing  a  crowd 
collecting,  seized  a  few  hundred  dollars  that  lay 
handy  and  beat  a  retreat.  The  show  of  their  re- 
volvers at  first  opened  a  way  for  them  as  they 
ran,  but  the  crowd  soon  rallied  and  ran  them  down. 
They  were  captured  without  anyone  being  hurt 
and  the  whole  amount  of  money  taken  was  re- 
covered. Had  the  cashier  been  intimidated  by 
their  threats  and  remained  passive,  they  would,  no 
doubt,  have  secured  nearly  all  the  money  in  the 
bank  and  possibly  have  escaped.  His  presence  of 
mind  in  utilizing  the  heavy  safe  door  as  a  shield 
and  his  loud  outcries,  which  drew  a  crowd  from 
the  street,  disconcerted  the  robbers. 


P.  HASELTON,  agent  and  yard-master  at 
Efh'ngham  for  the  Vandalia  Railroad  Com- 
pany, has  held  that  position  since  July, 
1884,  and  has  been  an  employe  of  the  com- 
pany since  July,  1869.  That  he  is  trustworthy 
and  capable  is  iadicated  by  his  long  continued 
service.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  wortli  and  many 
excellencies  of  character,  and  well  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  the  history  of  his  adopted  count}-. 

Mr.  Haselton  was  born  in  Orford,  Grafton  Coun- 
ty, N.  H.,  March  31,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Mercy  (Phelps)  Haselton.  His  parents  were 
also  natives  of  the  old  Granite  State,  and  both 
were  members  of  old  New  England  families  of 
English  origin.  The  father  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land, N.  H.,  and  the  mother  in  Grafton  County. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  the 
home  farm,  and  began  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood,  after  which  he 
attended  the  Orford  High  School.  In  1857,  like 
many  another  enterprising  young  New  Englander, 
he  left  home  for  the  Great  West,  seeking  fields  of 
greater  promise  for  a  fair  reward  for  industry  and 
energy.  He  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  and  made  his 


382 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


home  in  Charleston,  Coles  County.  In  October  of 
that  year  he  secured  a  position  with  the  Terre 
Haute  <fe  St.  Louis  Railroad,  a  part  of  the  Big  Four, 
on  construction,  and  was  in  charge  of  construction 
and  track  work  on  that  line  until  1859,  when  he 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-growing.  Not  find- 
ing that  business  to  his  taste,  he  abandoned  it  af- 
ter two  years'  experience  and  returned  to  railroad- 
ing. He  became  an  employe  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Road  in  the  capacity  of  brakeman  in  the 
spring  of  1861.  After  five  months  spent  in  that 
line  of  work  he  was  promoted  to  conductor,  and 
continued  with  that  company  until  the  1st  of  July, 
1869,  when  he  changed  to  the  Vandalia  Railroad, 
running  as  freight  conductor  until  the  spring  of 
1881.  At  that  time  he  was  promoted  to  passenger 
conductor,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  July, 
1884,  when  he  was  appointed  Station  Agent  at 
Effingham,  which  position  he  now  holds.  Mr. 
Haselton  comes  by  his  taste  for  railroading  very 
naturally,  as  his  father  was  a  railroad  contractor 
on  construction,  and  his  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  assisted  him  while  a  youth  in  his  operations 
on  the  Connecticut.  River  &  Pasumpsie  River 
Railroad. 

At  Piermont,  N.  H.,  on  the  7th  of  October,  1857, 
Mr.  Haselton  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  C.  Messer,  who  was  born  in  Piermont,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Peasley  Messer,.  They  have  one 
child,  a  son,  Frank  W. 

Our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  while  in  political  be- 
lief he  is  a  Democrat.  Socially,  he  is  a  Master  Ma- 
son, belonging  to  Western  Star  Lodge  No.  240, 
Champaign,  111.,  and  also  to  the  Knights  of  Honor. 
Mr.  Haselton  has  been  employed  in  railroad  work 
in  the  West  for  thirty-three  years,  twenty-four 
years  of  which  service  have  been  with  the  Vandalia 
Railroad,  or  more  properly  speaking,  perhaps,  with 
the  Terre  Haute  ife  Illinois  Railroad,  of  which  the 
Vandalia  is  a  division.  His  long  continuance  with 
that  company  and  his  promotion  to  the  responsi- 
ble position  he  now  holds  speak  in  no  uncertain 
manner  as  to  his  high  standing  with  the  company. 
He  is  a  man  possessed  of  good  executive  ability, 
understands  his  business  thoroughly,  and  always 
attends  to  his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 


In  mercantile  or  manufacturing  corporations  it  is 
sometimes  the  case  that  men  are  assigned  to  respon- 
sible positions  through  moneyed  influence,  but 
with  railroad  corporations  promotion  is  rarely 
made  except  for  merit,  and  fitness  and  faithfulness 
are  the  only  standards  considered  in  continuance 
in  positions  of  responsibility.  Judged  on  this 
basis,  which  is  the  only  true  one,  Mr.  Haselton  has 
good  reason  to  feel  satisfied  with  his  record. 


RLANDO  S.  SCOTT  is  proprietor  and  cash- 
ier of  the  People's  Bank  of  Newton,  111., 
mention  of  which  is  made  on  another  page 
of  this  book.  In  presenting  this  sketch  to  our 
readers,  we  record  the  life  work  of  one  who  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  business  interests 
of  the  community,  and  is  a  valued  and  progress- 
ive citizen  of  Jasper  County.  He  has  the  honor 
of  being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Wayne  County  on  the  22d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Robert  J.  and  Carrie 
Jane  (Gray)  Scott.  His  father  was  born  in  Car- 
roll County,  Ohio,  and  is  now  residing  in  Wayne 
County,  111.  His  mother  died  in  October,  1888. 
Mr.  Scott,  of  this  sketch,  spent  the  days  of  his 
childhood  with  his  parents  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity,  and  in  its  public  schools  acquired  his  edu- 
cation. Starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  secured 
a  position  as  merchant's  clerk  and  also  followed 
various  other  occupations.  At  length  he  came  to 
Newton,  reaching  this  place  on  the  28th  of  July 
1880.  In  the  following  autumn  he  entered  the 
People's  Bank  as  book-keeper,  and  in  1885  suc- 
ceeded by  purchase  to  the  business  of  which  lie 
has  since  been  proprietor  and  manager.  He  seems 
to  possess  special  aptitude  for  the  business  in 
which  he  is  engaged  and  has  therefore  done  well 
in  this  line. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1883,  Mr.  Scott  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Miss  Emma  Franke,  their  wed- 
ding being  celebrated  in  Newton.  The  lady  was 
born  in  Newton  and  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Dr. 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


383 


John  G.  Franke,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  book.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  have  two 
sons,  Orlando  Frank  and  Robert  Edward. 

Mr.  Scott  is  owner  of  four  farms  in  Jasper 
County,  aggregating  four  hundred  and  ten  acres 
of  laud.  "He  has  a  new  orchard  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  acres  set  out  in  apples,  and  a  forty-acre  or- 
chard of  bearing  trees,  probably  the  best  one  of  its 
size  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  agitators  of  the  orchard  business  in  this 
part  of  the  county  and  planted  the  first  orchard 
here  of  importance.  He  has  made  an  earnest  effort 
to  rouse  public  opinion  to  the  importance  of  taking 
advantage  of  the  marked  natural  advantages 
of  this  region  in  soil  and  climate  as  a  fruit-pro- 
ducing country,  and  the  people  are  now  rapidly 
extending  the  area  of  planted  trees,  with  promis- 
ing prospects  of  success.  Our  subject  is  a  progress- 
ive and  public-spirited  man,  and  has  done  and  is 
doing  much  for  the  best  interests  of  the  commun- 
ity in  which  he  makes  his  home. 

Mr.  Scott  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  connected, 
socially,  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  being  a 
Knight-Templar  Mason.  He  belongs  to  Newton 
Lodge  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Newton  Chap- 
ter No.  109,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Gorin  Commander}' 
No.  14,  K.  T.  He  is  an  energetic  and  successful 
business  man,  cordial  in  manner,  enterprising,  yet 
conservative,  prompt  and  exact  in  his  business 
methods,  and  enjoys  the  confidence  and  good-will 
of  his  patrons  and  the  general  public  in  a  marked 
degree. 


V. 


ILLIAM  A.  GIFFORD,  one  of  the|promi- 
nent  and  influential  citizens  of  Jasper 
county,  who  resides  on  a  good  farm  on  sec- 
tion 6,  Granville  Township,  well  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume,  for  he  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance and  we  feel  assured  that  his  many 
friends  will  be  glad  to  receive  this  record  of  his 
life  work. 


Born  in  Clinton  County.  Ind.,  November  14, 
1839,  he  is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Margaret  (Freeman) 
Gifford,  natives  of  North  Carolina.  The  family  is 
of  English  descent.  The  father  followed  fanning 
throughout  his  entire  life.  About  1824  he  re- 
moved with  his  parents  from  North  Carolina  to 
Indiana,  making  the  journey  by  team,  and  locat- 
ing in  Orange  County  before  its  organization. 
In  fact,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  helped  to 
organize  and  name  the  county,  where  he  and  his 
wife  resided  until  1828,  when  they  removed  to 
Johnson  County.  There  he  entered  Government 
land,  but  after  a  few  years  he  went  to  Clinton 
County.  The  father  of  our  subject  made  his  home 
in  Johnson  County  for  about  two  years  after  his 
marriage,  then  moved  to  Clinton  County,  where 
he  resided  until  1840,  which  year  witnessed  his 
emigration  to  Coles  County,  111.,  where  he  spent 
two  years.  In  1842  he  came  to  Jasper  County,  and 
entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tions 1  and  12  Granville  Township.  On  the  former 
section  he  erected  a  small  cabin.  The  family  endured 
all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life. 
They  did  their  trading  atTerre  Haute  and  Palestine 
and  had  to  go  long  distances  to  mill.  Levi  Gifford 
died  November  24,  1846,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  Cummins'  Cemetery.  He  was  a  very 
active  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
and  the  upright  life  which  he  lived  made  his 
death  mourned  by  many  friends.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  went  from  North  Carolina  to  Johnson 
County,  Ind.,  in  1827,  and  four  years  later  became 
the  wife  of  Levi  Gifford.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  died  in  the  Hoosier 
State  May  20, 1854. 

In  the  Gifford  family  were  seven  children:  Eliz- 
abeth M.,  wife  of  David  Clark,  of  Jasper  County; 
Maria  J.,  wife  of  C.  L.  McCommibs,  of  Jasper 
County;  William  A.;  Sarah  M.,  who  was  the  wife 
of  W.  W.  Kibler,  and  died  in  1881;  Charity,  wid- 
ow of  J.  W.  Clark,  and  a  resident  of  Bloomington, 
111.;  Levi,  who  died  in  1877;  and  one  child  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  only  three  years  of  age  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Jasper  County.  Af- 
ter his  father's  death,  in  1846,  the  family  returned 
to  Johnson  County,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  with  his 


384 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mother  until  her  death.  He  acquired  a  limited 
education  in  the  subscription  and  the  district 
schools,  which  lias  been  largely  supplemented  by 
reading,  observation  and  experience  in  later  years 
until  he  is  now  a  well-informed  man.  He  lived 
in  Indiana  until  1854,  when  he  returned  to  Jasper 
Count}'  and  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  with 
whom  he  remained  four  years. 

Mr.  Gilford  was  then  married,  October  3,  1858, 
to  Miss  Emily  Clark,  and  they  began  domestic  life 
upon  his  share  of  the  old  homestead.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  four  children:  Oliver  T., 
who  is  Principal  of  the  Hunt  City  Public  Schools; 
Sirena  F.,  who  died  October  10,  1865;  Lillie  M., 
wife  of  II.  Merrick,  of  Jasper  County;  and  Elsie 
A.,  wife  of  John  C.  Farley,  a  farmer  of  Granville 
Township. 

In  1861,  Mr.  Gifford  sold  his  interest  in  the  old 
homestead  and  rented  land  until  the  following 
year,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war,  asa  private 
of  Company  E,  One  Hundred  Twenty-third  Illinois 
Infantry.  After  the  battle  of  Perryville,  in  which 
lie  participated,  he  was  sent  with  his  regiment  in 
pursuit  of  Morgan  and  took  part  in  several  skir- 
mishes near  Murfreesboro.  The  troops  then  went 
to  Hoover's  Gap,  and  from  there  to  Chatta- 
nooga, where  his  brigade  was  the  first  to  shell  that 
place.  After  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  they  returned  to  Murfreesboro,  later  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Shelby  villc  and  Farmington, 
and  went  with  Sherman  on  the  celebrated  Atlanta 
campaign.  The  following  spring  Mr.  Gifford  par- 
ticipated in  the  Wilson  raid  through  Alabama  to 
Selma,  where  a  hard  battle  occurred,  and  then  went 
to  Macon,  Ga.  He  received  his  discharge  at 
Camp  Butler,  in  Springfield,  111.,  July  6,  1865.  He 
had  been  promoted  to  Corporal  in  1863. 

On  returning  home  Mr.  Gifford  rented  land  in 
Jasper  County  for  a  year,  and  in  1867  removed 
to  the  farm  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  acres  of  highly 
cultivated  land  and  in  connection  with  general 
farming  he  carries  on  stock-raising,  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  the  breeding  of  horses.  In  his  business 
career  he  has  been  very  successful  and  as  the  result 
of  his  well-directed  efforts  has  achieved  prosperity. 

Mr.  Gifford  takes  a  warm    interest  in  political 


affairs  and  has  teen  a  stanch  advocate  of  Repub- 
lican principles  since  the  organization  of  that 
party.  Frequently  he  has  been  called  upon  to 
serve  in  public  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He 
was  Commissioner  of  Highways  in  his  township  for 
six  years,  is  the  present  Supervisor  of  his  township 
and  Chairman  of  the  Board.  He  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Republican  State  Convention  on  two 
different  occasions  and  last  summer  was  chairman 
of  the  delegation  that  elected  Hon.  E.  Callahan. 
He  has  also  many  times  been  a  delegate  to  the  Re- 
publican county  conventions.  Mr.  Gifford  is  a 
leader  of  his  party  in  this  community  and  has 
done  effective  service  in  its  interests.  He  has  also 
proven  a  faithful  and  competent  officer  whenever 
called  upon  to  serve  in  positions  of  public  trust. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  has  held  many  of  the 
church  offices  and  was  a  lay  delegate  to  the  an- 
nual conference.  Mr.  Gifford  has  been  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortune  and  has  builded  well. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON  MARTIN.  In  the 
record  of  early  settlers  and  prominent  citi- 
zens of  Jasper  County,  111.,  there  is  no  one 
more  deserving  of  favorable  mention  than  the  late 
T.  J.  Martin,  of  Newton,  who  for  nearly  forty 
years  was  recognized  as  the  foremost  merchant  and 
general  business  man  of  Jasper  Count}'.  Our  sub- 
ject was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  on 
the  Big  Sandy,  in  Floyd  County,  February  8, 
1823,  being  a  son  of  George  and  Levina  (French) 
Martin.  The  father  was  of  Irish  descent,  but  the 
mother  was  an  American. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  T.  J.  Martin  started  out 
in  life  for  himself.  Going  to  Missouri,  he  found 
employment  in  a  tobacco  factory  and  continued 
there  until  in  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  enlisted 
for  the  Mexican  War.  He  served  as  Wagon-master, 
and  while  in  discharge  of  that  duty  was  quite 
severely  wounded  in  the  side  by  an  Indian  arrow. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


385 


After  the  war  closed,  he  removed  to  Paris,  Edgar 
County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  dry-goods 
business  with  the  Booths,  with  whom  he  carried  on 
a  successful  trade. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1848,  Mr.  Martin  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Blackburn,  daughter  of  Col.  James 
M.  Blackburn,  one  of  the  oldest  and  wealthiest 
citizens  of  Edgar  County.  In  1849  our  subject  re- 
moved to  Newton,  Jasper  County,  and  engaged  in 
the  dry -goods  business  with  Bebee  Booth,  of  Terre 
Haute,  I  nd.,  as  an  equal  partner.  The  genial  manner 
and  thorough  business  methods  of  the  young 
merchant  soon  won  for  him  the  good-will  and  con- 
fidence of  his  fellow-citizens  and  secured  for  the 
house  an  increasing  trade. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1855,  Mr.  Martin  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose 
death  left  him  with  four  young  children  to  care 
for.  All  were  sons  and  are  now  deceased.  Henry 
Woodson  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  James 
Blackburn,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four;  John  Wid- 
ner,  at  thirty;  and  William,  the  youngest,  died  in 
infancy,  only  a  few  weeks  after  the  death  of  his 
mother.  On  the  17th  of  November,  1855,  Mr. 
Martin  was  married  in  Williston,  Vt.,  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  C'hittenden,  of  that  place.  She  was  born  in 
Williston,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Truman  A.  and 
Betsy  (Rhodes)  Chittenden.  Her  father  was  the  eld- 
est son  of  Gov.  Martin  Chittenden,  of  that  State, 
who  was  first  elected  to  that  office  in  1813,  and 
was  subsequently  a  Member  of  Congress,  being  a 
contemporary  of  Henry  Clay.  Mrs. Martin's  great- 
grandfather, Thomas  Chittenden,  was  the  first 
Governor  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  The  fam- 
ily is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  in  New 
England.  One  member  of  the  family,  Ex-Gov. 
Chittenden,  has  been  recently  elected  to  the  United 
States  Senate  from  the  Old  Granite  State. 

Truman  A.  Chiltenden  was  born  in  Vermont,  in 
January,  1796,  and  was  prominent  in  the  local 
affairs  of  his  town.  His  death  occurred  February  7, 
1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  His  wife,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Martin,  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  1795,  and  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  old- 
est New  England  families.  Her  people,  the  Rhodes, 
were  originally  from  Rhode  Island,  and  settled  in 
New  Hampshire  in  an  early  day.  Her  death  oc- 


curred in  Williston,  Vt.,  in  August,  1892,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years.  Mrs.  Martin 
was  reared  and  educated  in  her  native  State  and 
was  engaged  in  educational  work  until  1854,  when 
in  September  of  that  year  she  came  to  Illinois,  ac- 
i  companying  her  mother's  sister,  Mrs.  Fuller,  who 
was  a  resident  of  this  State  and  had  been  visiting 
in  New  England.  On  coming  to  Illinois,  Miss 
Chittenden  accepted  a  position  as  teacher  of  the 
school  in  Knoxville,  but  returned  to  her  home  in 
the  following  summer,  and  in  November,  as  previ- 
ously stated,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Martin,  with 
whom  she  returned  to  Newton.  Six  children  were 
bora  of  this  marriage.  Elizabeth  and  Willie  Chit- 
tenden were  twins.  The  former  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years.  The  latter  is  married  and  is  the  senior 
partner  of  the  firm  of  Martin  Sons,  merchants, 
successors  to  T.  J.  Martin.  They  are  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mary  Anne  is  the  wife  of 
Hon.  George  W.  Fithian,  the  present  Member  of 
Congress  from  the  Newton  district,  and  a  promi- 
nent lawyer  of  Newton.  Thomas  Jefferson  and 
Lizzie  were  twins.  The  latter  died  when  a  year 
old,  and  the  former  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Ed- 
ward Truman,  the  youngest,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Newton,  is  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm 
of  T.  J.  Martin 's  Sons. 

Thomas  J.  Martin  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  Jasper  County  for 
nearly  forty  years,  and  his  name  is  familiar  in 
almost  ever}'  household.  His  rapid  advancement 
in  business  after  his  introduction  to  the  village  soon 
put  him  in  the  lead  of  the  business  men,  and  old 
residents  can  easily  recall  the  fact  that  thirty  years 
ago  no  citizen  was  more  popular  at  every  feast 
and  gathering.  A  man  endowed  with  rare  physical 
grace  and  beauty,  he  won  the  hearts  of  old  and 
young  alike,  yet  had  the  good  judgment  not  to 
be  injured  by  the  possession  of  these  qualities,  for 
enemy  and  friend  united  in  the  acknowledgment 
of  his  business  ability.  About  twelve  years  after 
he  established  himself  in  business  in  Newton,  he 
bought  out  his  partner,  Mr.  Booth,  and  in  less  than 
ten  years  more  he  was  worth  $50,000 — no  small  for- 
tune to  have  accumulated  in  an  inland  village  of 
a  few  hundred  inhabitants  before  the  modern 
methods  of  speculation  in  stocks,  Boards  of  Trade, 


386 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


etc.,  had  been  legitimatized  as  honorable  business 
methods  leading  to  fortune,  but  as  of  ten  to  failure. 
In  1870,  however,  financial  disaster  overtook  him 
through  his  wool  trade. 

At  this  time  his  son  James  began  to  fail  and 
premonitory  symptoms  of  consumption  bade  him 
seek  Colorado  in  1872,  where  the  father  and  son 
united  their  efforts  in  restoring  health  and  for- 
tune. The  health  of  the  son  improved  to  such  a 
degree  that  in  1875  Mr.  Martin  went  to  Phila- 
delphia for  a  few  months  and  thence  home,  to  be 
confronted  by  a  telegram  announcing  the  death 
of  his  son  from  hemorrhage  at  Trinidad.  The 
shock  and  disappointment  in  this  loss  of  his  son 
and  business  partner  made  him  seriously  ill  and 
developed  the  first  symptoms  of  disorder  that  bereft 
him  of  his  life. 

Circumstances  and  will  soon  again  put  Mr.  Mar- 
tin into  the  business  arena,  bravely  determined  to 
ascend  the  hill  of  fortune  a  second  time,  although 
perhaps  witli  a  less  buoyant  step  than  of  old.  After 
a  year  on  commission,  he  embarked  for  himself 
again,  and  gradually  ascended  with  steady  but 
even  step  the  prosperous  way.  On  the  25th  of 
September,  1883,  upon  the  receipt  of  the  announce- 
ment of  the  death  of  Col.  Blackburn,  of  Paiis,  Mr. 
Martin  became  unusually  depressed  and  the  follow- 
ing month  was  a  second  time  taken  with  paralysis, 
after  which  he  was  never  again  able  to  walk  with- 
out assistance.  During  these  years  of  half-in valid- 
ism  his  wife  and  dutiful  sons  were  his  constant 
companions  wherever  he  chose  to  be  driven  or 
carried. 

Dickens  says,  "The  hardest  and  best  borne  trials 
are  those  which  are  never  chronicled  in  any 
earthly  record  and  are  suffered  every  day."  The 
proud  spirit  of  this  man  was  not  broken  by 
financial  reverses,  but  when  fate  touched  him  with 
physical  decay  the  mantle  of  humility  fell  about 
him  and  he  sat  in  the  shadow  overcome  by  his  sor- 
row. But  through  his  patient,  noble  and  heroic 
wife,  he  soon  looked  out  beyond  the  shadow,  and 
the  sun  still  shone  for  him.  In  these  last  years 
the  true  beauty  and  helpfulness  of  marriage  had  a 
marvelous  exemplification  in  this  household.  The 
end  came  on  the  earl}'  morning  of  May  20,  1886, 
in  the  season  of  flowers,  and  at  his  funeral  his 


many  friends  remembered  his  partiality  for  those 
sweet  and  cheering  ornaments  of  Nature.  Mr. 
Martin  was  never  an  active  worker  with  any 
particular  Christian  sect,  but  his  testimony  often 
given  in  meetings  with  Methodists  and  Presbyteri- 
ans gave  token  of  his  earnest  desire  for  the  success 
of  true  religion,  and  his  acknowledgment  of  the 
good  influences  emanating  from  such  organizations 
was  emphasized  by  generous  contributions  to  their 
support. 

Mr.  Martin  was  always  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  and  being  a  shrewd  business  man  realized 
the  advantages  of  railway  communication  with 
the  world  and  was  the  first  to  make  a  movement 
toward  the  organization  of  a  company  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  line  through  Newton  to  connect 
with  the  great  through  lines  of  the  State.  Accord- 
ingly, he  was  active  in  the  formation  of  the  Gray- 
ville  &  Mattoon  Railroad  Company,  was  chosen 
a  member  of  its  Board  of  Directors,  and  accom- 
plished an  immense  amount  of  work  in  securing 
the  right  of  way  and  the  granting  of  city  and 
county  bonds  for  its  construction.  The  Board  of 
Directors  were  unfortunate  in  making  a  contract 
for  construction  with  apparently  responsible  par- 
ties in  the  East,  into  whose  hands  the  bonds  passed 
as  a  basis  of  construction.  The  bonds  were  hy- 
pothecated by  the  contractors,  but  the  road  was  not 
built.  For  nearly  twenty  years  Mr.  Martin  was  fore- 
most in  the  struggle  to  force  the  building  of  the 
road,  spending  much  time  and  money,  but  finally 
retiring  in  disgust.  Subsequently  the  road  was 
built  and  became  a  part  of  the  present  Peoria, 
Decatur  &  Evansville  Railroad,  the  most  import- 
ant road  through  Jasper  County.  The  preliminary 
work  done  by  Mr.  Martin  and  his  co-laborers  bore 
good  fruit,  but  not  one  of  the  projectors  realized  a 
dollar  from  the  investment  and  their  arduous 
labor. 

Mr.  Martin  was  an  enthusiast  on  the  subject  of 
temperance  as  applied  to  intoxicating  liquors,  and 
strongl}*  reflected  the  sentiment  that  has  governed 
Newton  for  many  years.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Whig  in  early  life  and  an  admirer  of  Henry  Clay. 
On  the  disruption  of  the  old  Whig  party  he  be- 
came a  Democrat,  and  was  ever  afterward  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democracy.  He  was  generous  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


387 


warm-hearted  and  many  a  needy  one  has  reason 
to  remember  his  open-handed  liberality.  Socially, 
he  was  an  earnest  Mason,  an  honored  member  of 
Newton  Lodge  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Newton 
Chapter  No.  109,  R.  A.  M.;  and  of  Gorin  Corn- 
man  dery  No.  14,  K.  T.j  of  Olney.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  161,  I.  O.  0.  F., 
with  which  he  maintained  membership  until  his 
death.  He  possessed  superior  executive  ability 
and  indefatigable  energy  in  the  direction  of  busi- 
ness enterprises,  and  his  integrity  and  business 
methods  were  above  criticism.  He  enjoyed  in  a 
marked  degree  the  confidence,  respect  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow-citizens  and  of  all  with  whom  he  had 
business  or  social  relations.  While  his  financial 
reverses  above  alluded  to  impaired  the  large  for- 
tune which  he  would  otherwise  have  left  his  chil- 
dren, he  still  left  his  wife  and  family  in  comfort- 
able circumstances,  and,  what  is  better  still  than 
wealth,  he  left  his  sons  the  powerful  influence  of  his 
good  name  and  business  prestige,  on  which  they 
are  building  so  solidly  that  the  name  will  be  per- 
petuated with  honor  in  future  years.  Mr.  Martin 
always  took  an  active  and  efficient  interest  in  the 
schools  and  did  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation. His  influence  was  always  strong  in  sup- 
port of  the  great  moral,  religious  and  educational 
forces  that  are  essential  to  human  happiness  and 
the  advancement  of  a  higher  civilization. 


OHN  WISE,  a  well-known  agriculturist  and 
representative  citizen  of  Jasper  County,  re- 
.  siding  on  section  30,  Wade  Township,  is  a 
native  of  Germany.  He  was  born  in  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  December  17,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Anna  (Yager)  Wise,  natives  of  the 
same  country.  The  father  died  in  Germany  dur- 
ing the  infancy  of  our  subject.  Mrs.  Wise  sur- 
vived him  for  a  number  of  years,  and  became  the 
wife  of  Matthew  Weymert,  with  whom  she  emi- 
grated to  the  New  AVorld  in  1849.  They  crossed 


the  Atlantic  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence  made 
their  way  up  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  where 
Mr.  Yager,  an  uncle  of  our  subject,  met  them  with 
teams  and  took  them  to  Jasper  County.  Mr.  Wey- 
mert located  upon  a  farm  and  is  still  a  resident  of 
that  county. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  mother  and  step- 
father during  his  boyhood  days.  He  left  home  to 
enter  the  service  of  his  adopted  country,  enlisting 
December  16,  1861,  in  Company  E,  Fifty-fourth 
Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until  he  was 
discharged  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  enlistment, 
in  February,  1865.  fn  the  battle  at  Union  City, 
Tenn.,  in  which  he  participated,  he  was  taken  a 
prisoner,  but  the  next  day  was  parolled  and  sent 
to  Benton  Barricks,  Mo.,  where  he  remained  until 
exchanged.  He  then  joined  the  regiment  at  Du- 
vall's  Bluff,  Ark.,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Grand  Prairie,  where  eight  companies  of  the  regi- 
ment were  captured.  On  the  17th  of  February, 
1865,  he  was  mustered  out  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Jasper  County. 

For  two  years  Mr.  Wise  remained  with  his  step- 
father, and  then  went  to  St.  Louis.  After  spend- 
ing a  winter  in  that  city,  he  returned  and  operated 
the  home  farm  for  one  season.  We  next  find  him 
in  Newton,  where  he  served  a  one  year's  appren- 
ticeship to  the  wagon-making  trade,  after  which 
he  bought  out  his  employer's  shop  and  carried  on 
a  successful  business  for  two  years.  lie  then  sold 
out,  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  three 
years,  when  he  bought  a  farm,  which  he  operated 
for  a  year.  He  then  went  to  Indianapolis,  where 
he  engaged  in  carpentering  for  four  months.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned  to  Jas- 
per County,  and  located  upon  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  and  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased. He  first  bought  two  hundred  acres  of 
timber  land,  which  he  cleared,  fenced  and  im- 
proved. He  has  since  bought  ten  acres  additional 
and  his  farm  is  now  very  highly  cultivated  and 
improved  with  all  the  accessories  and  appoint- 
ments of  a  model  farm. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1869,  in  Olney,  Mr. 
Wise  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  A. 
Knapp.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Portage  Count}', 
Ohio.  Her  father,  Adam  Knapp,  was  born  in 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Germany,  and  on  emigrating  to  the  New  World, 
located  in  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  His  daughter  became  a  resident  of  New- 
ton when  a  maiden  of  fourteen  years.  Eight  chil- 
dren were  born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife,  as 
follows:  John  A.,  who  is  now  clerking  in  Newton; 
Anna  B.,  Bertha  Clara,  Alta,  Lora,  Eda  and  Mary 
Audry.  They  also  lost  two  children  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Wise  is  independent  in  politics,  voting  for 
the  man  whom  he  thinks  will  best  fill  the  office,  re- 
gardless of  party  affiliations.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  of  Newton.  His  wife  holds 
membership  with  the  Newton  Catholic  Church. 
Our  subject  is  widely  known  in  this  community, 
and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  strict  integrity  and 
sterling  worth. 


1821. 


ON.  LEWIS  W.  MILLER,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Richland  County  of  1856,  now  a 
prominent  farmer  residing  on  section  3, 
was  born  in  New  Berlin,  Pa.,  September  6, 
His  parents  were  Christian  and  E.  (Ritter) 
Miller.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
with  his  widowed  mother  he  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic to  the  United  States  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century.  In  Pennsylvania  he  met  and 
married  Miss  Ritter,  who  was  born  in  the  Keystone 
State,  and  was  of  German  descent.  When  Lewis 
was  a  lad  of  eight  years,  the  family  removed  to 
Richland  County,  Ohio. 

That  community  was  then  but  sparsely  settled, 
aud  amidst  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  our 
subject  grew  to  manhood,  spending  the  days  of 
his  youth  upon  his  father's  farm.  In  the  common 
schools  he  acquired  his  education.  On  attaining 
his  majority,  he  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer, 
and  has  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  almost 
continuously  since.  Desiring  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  West,  he  made  his  way  to  Illinois  in  1856,  lo- 
cating in  Riehland  County  upon  the  farm  which 
he  still  owns.  Within  its  boundaries  are  now  com- 


prised one  hundred  and  sixty-four  acres  of  valu- 
able land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He  has  also 
given  forty  acres  to  his  son.  In  1872  lie  built  a 
pleasant  and  commodious  frame  residence,  and  has 
made  other  good  improvements,  all  of  which  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  His 
time  and  attention  he  devotes  to  general  farming. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  Miller  chose  Miss  Susan  Stentz,  daughter  of 
Philip  Stentz,  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  December  1,  1842,  aud  was 
blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  children:  Simon  P., 
who  died  in  infancy;  Mrs.  Anna  Parker,  now  de- 
ceased; Mrs.  Mary  Shields,  who  has  also  passed 
away;  Hattie  A.,  deceased;  Susan  A.,  wife  of  J.  S. 
Howe;  Benjamin;  Frances,  wife  of  W.  A.  Bodlett; 
Mrs.  Jemima  Smith;  and  William  A.  The  family 
is  one  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  com- 
munity. The  mother  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Mr.  Miller  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs,  and  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
party,  the  principles  of  which  he  warmly  advocates. 
He  does  all  in  his  power  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  party,  and  has  frequently  been  called  upon 
to  serve  in  public  offices.  He  has  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  Supervisor  of  the  township,  and  other  local 
offices,  and  in  1865  was  elected  to  represent  his 
district  in  the  State  Legislature.  Mr.  Miller  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  in  Richland  County,  and  is  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen. 


EMUEL  ODELL,  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Noble  Township,  and  a  repre- 
sentative citizen  of  Richland  County,  re- 
sides on  section  27.  He  claims  Indiana  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred 
near  Springville,  Lawrence  County,  March  26, 
1825.  His  father,  Nehemiah  Odell,  was  a  native 
of  North  Carolina,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
He  married  Nancy  Bridwell,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


391 


tucky,  and  was  of  English  lineage.  They  became 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children:  Emily,  Lemuel, 
Eveline,  Abraham  and  Isaac  (twins),  Fannie,  Jere- 
miah, Alexander,  Caleb,  Nancy  J.;  Cynthia,  who 
died  when  six  years  of  age;  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy. 

In  noting  the  boyhood  of  our  subject,  we  find 
him  a  country  lad  attending  the  subscription 
schools,  which  were  held  in  a  log  schoolhouse, 
furnished  with  slab  seats.  His  educational  privi- 
leges were  quite  meagre,  but  his  training  at  farm 
labor  was  abundant.  He  was  early  inured  to  work 
in  the  fields,  and  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
services  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  working  by  the  month  on  a  farm  and  in  a 
sawmill.  He  was  thus  employed  for  three  years, 
after  which,  in  1848,  he  went  to  Sullivan  County, 
Ind.  There  he  purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  of 
partially  improved  land,  having  acquired  the  cap- 
ital through  his  industry  and  economy  in  the  two 
previous  years.  In  1851,  he  returned  to  Lawrence 
County,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1853. 

In  1846  Mr.  Odell  had  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Murray,  daughter  of  James  and  Rachel  Murray, 
and  with  his  family  he  came  to  Richland  County, 
111.,  in  1853.  For  a  year  he  engaged  in  operating 
a  farm  in  Noble  Township,  and  then  came  to  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives.  It  was  situated  on  sec- 
tion 27.  In  1850  he  had  entered  from  the  Gov- 
ernment one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  for  which 
he  paid  $1.25  per  acre.  It  was  a  raw  tract,  but  lie 
built  a  log  cabin  and  stable  and  began  the  work  of 
transforming  the  unbroken  prairie  into  rich  and 
fertile  fields.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm  he  has 
since  extended  until  it  now  comprises  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres,  which  yields  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he 
bestows  upon  it.  The  log  cabin  has  long  since 
been  replaced  by  a  comfortable  frame  residence, 
and  he  now  has  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
tliis  locality. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Odell  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Cicero  II.,  James  N.  (deceased) 
Robert,  Cora,  Fred,  Alexander  and  Lucetta.  The 
mother  died  December  3,  1867,  and  Mr.  Odell  af- 
terward married  Mrs.  Matilda  (Robinson)  Long. 
They  became  the  parents  of  three  children:  Lem- 

19 


uel  II.,  and  two  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Odell 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  August  4,  1872,  and 
our  subject  married  Mrs.  Catherine  E.  Kite,  widow 
of  J.  Hite.  They  have  three  daughters:  Mary  E., 
Emily  and  Eva. 

Mr.  Odell  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Prohibition  party,  and  has  been  hon- 
ored with  a  number  of  local  offices.  He  served  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways  three  terms,  was  School 
Trustee  and  has  been  School  Director  for  many 
years.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  he  does  all  in  his  power  for  its 
advancement.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
Baptist  Church.  We  see  in  Mr.  Odell  a  self-made 
man,  who  started  out  in  life  empty-handed,  hav- 
ing no  capital  save  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of 
the  future  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  and  he 
has  succeeded.  His  determination  and  energy- 
have  overcome  the  obstacles  in  his  path,  and  his 
untiring  labors  have  brought  him  a  rich  reward, 
so  that  he  is  now  numbered  among  the  well-to-do 
citizens  of  Noble  Township. 


>HOMAS  HUNT,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  section  13,  Wade  Town- 
ship, is  too  well  known  throughout  Jasper 
County  to  need  a  special  introduction  to  its  citi- 
zens. His  long  residence  in  the  community,  dat- 
ing from  the  year  1849,  has  gained  him  alargecir- 
cle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  whose  regard  he 
has  won  by  an  honorable,  upright  life.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Day  ton,  Montgomery  County, 
Ohio,  December  14,  1827,  and  is  a  grandson  of 
James  Hunt,  a  native  of  England,  and  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  America.  The  grandfather  was 
also  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes,  and  served 
under  Washington  in  the  struggle  for  indepen- 
dence. 

John  Hunt,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  and  there  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Brooks,  of  the  same  county.  Re- 
moving to  Rush  County,  Tnd.,  which  was  then  an 
almost  unbroken  wilderness,  he  began  the  devel- 


392 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


opment  of  a  farm,  upon  which  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  in  1870.  He  was  a  very 
prominent  and  earnest  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  a  stanch  Abolitionist  and  a  warm  friend  of 
the  Union.  Mrs.  Hunt  passed  away  several  years 
prior  'to  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  both  lie 
buried  near  the  old  home.  In  their  family  were 
four  sous  and  four  daughters.  James  became  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Jasper  County,  and  here  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death  in  1863; 
Thomas  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth;  Martha  J. 
is  the  wife  of  Hiram  Mitchell,  of  Wade  Township, 
Jasper  County;  Amaziah  is  a  merchant  and  farmer 
of  Falmouth;  Rachel  became  the  wife  of  Andrew 
J.  Cross,  and  now  resides  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.; 
Milton  makes  his  home  in  the  same  city;  and 
Elizabeth  is  now  deceased. 

In  his  youth  Thomas  Hunt  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  aided  his  father  in  the  labors  of 
the  home  farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  chose  as  a 
companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss 
Louisa  Price,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  Price.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in 
Rush  County,  Ind.,  February  22,  1849,  and  the 
following  September  Mr.  Hunt  came  with  his  bride 
to  Illinois,  making  the  journey  with  a  team.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  re- 
sides, and  performed  the  arduous  task  of  trans- 
forming the  raw  prairie  into  fertile  fields.  He  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  fron- 
tier life,  and  lived  in  a  log  cabin  until  1864,  when 
the  pioneer  home  was  replaced  by  a  comfortable 
frame  residence.  Good  barns  and  outbuildings 
have  also  been  erected  and  other  improvements 
made.  The  home  farm  now  comprises  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  rich  land,  and  he  owns 
elsewhere  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  has 
also  given  good  farms  to  his  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  have  a  family  of  two  chil- 
dren. John  M.,  the  eldest,  is  a  substantial  farmer 
of  Jasper  County,  owning  land  adjoining  that  of 
his  father's;  Sarah  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Frank  An- 
dre, also  a  farmer  of  Wade  Township.  The  par- 
ents and  their  children  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  the  family  is  one  of  prominence 
in  the  community. 


In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hunt  is  a  Demo- 
crat, but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  signal  suc- 
cess. Although  Mr.  Hunt  began  life  a  poor  man, 
with  no  capital  save  a  young  man's  bright  hope 
of  the  future  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  he 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming 
the  obstacles  in  his  path,  until  he  is  now  numbered 
among  the  extensive  landowners  and  substantial 
farmers  of  Jasper  County.  His  prosperity  has 
been  but  the  just  reward  of  his  own  labors.  His 
honorable,  upright  career  has  won  him  universal 
confidence,  and  his  many  excellencies  of  character 
have  gained  him  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom 
business  or  pleasure  has  brought  him  in  contact. 


ENNIS  GINDER,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres 
of  land  on  section  5,  German  Town- 
ship, and  who  is  numbered  among  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Richland  County  of  1840,  is 
one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that  Ohio  has  furnished 
this  community.  He  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  May  7,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Ignatius 
Ginder,  a  native  of  Germany,  who  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  to  the  New  World  in  1830.  He 
first  located  in  Philadelphia,  and  from  there  went 
to  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased 
a  small  farm,  and  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
for  nine  years.  In  1840,  he  came  with  his  family 
to  Richland  County,  and,  purchasing  some  raw 
land  in  German  Township,  began  its  transforma- 
tion into  fields  of  rich  fertility,  which  would 
yield  him  golden  harvests  as  a  reward  for  his 
labors.  His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin,  but  he 
afterwards  erected  a  pleasant  frame  residence  and 
supplied  it  with  all  the  necessaries  and  comforts 
of  life.  During  his  last  seven  years  he  made  his 
home  with  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  his  death 
occurring  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1883,  the  anni- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


393 


versary  of  his  birth.  His  wife  passed  away  April 
16,  1879,  in  her  seventy-seventh  year,  and  both 
were  buried  in  St.  Joseph's  Cemetery. 

Dennis  Ginder  is  one  of  four  brothers.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  are  Peter,  who  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  married,  but  is  now  deceaeed; 
and  Joseph  and  John,  botli  of  whom  follow  farming 
in  Richland  County.  One  brother  and  an  only 
sister  died  in  early  childhood.  Our  subject  was 
only  four  years  of  age  when  with  his  parents  he 
came  to  Illinois.  He  played  upon  the  old  home- 
stead and  when  old  enough  to  handle  the  plow 
began  work  in  the  fields.  Daring  the  winter  sea- 
son he  attended  the  districts  schools,  but  his  edu- 
cational advantages  were  quite  limited.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  after  he  had  arrived  at 
man's  estate,  and  in  company  with  his  brother 
carried  on  the  home  farm. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Ginder 
occurred  February  20,  1868,  when  was  celebrated 
his  union  with  Mary  Ochs,  daughter  of  John  Oclis, 
an  early  settler  of  this  community.  The  lady, 
however,  is  a  native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Unto 
them  have  been  born  five  children,  Andy  D.,S.  M., 
Julia,  Hattie  and  Emma,  all  of  whom  are  still  with 
their  parents.  They  also  lost  one  son,  John  A.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years.  The  parents  and 
children  are  all  members  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  in  politics  our  subject  has  been  a  Democrat 
since  attaining  his  majority,  at  which  time  he  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Ginder  located  upon 
the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  first 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  of  which  twenty-five 
acres  had  been  cleared.  A  log  cabin  was  the  only 
improvement  upon  the  place,  and  the  family  made  it 
their  home  for  some  time.  As  his  financial  resources 
increased,  an  additional  eighty  acres  were  added 
to  the  first  tract,  and  since  then  the  boundaries  of 
the  farm  have  been  extended  to  include  another 
forty  acres.  The  care  and  labor  which  Mr.  Ginder 
has  bestowed  upon  his  land,  the  excellent  build- 
ings which  he  has  erected,  the  orchard  he  has  set 
out,  and  all  of  its  other  equipments,  make  it  one 
of  the  finest  farms  of  German  Township.  It  is 
located  within  ten  miles  of  Olney,  and  is  a  valu- 
able and  desirable  place.  Its  neat  appearance  and 


its  well-kept  fields  attest  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 
Everything  there  seen  gives  evidence  of  his  labor. 
Prosperity  has  come  to  him,  but  it  is  well  deserved, 
being  the  just  reward  of  a  well-spent  and  upright 
life. 


PRANK  E.  ALVORb,  a  prominent  young 
I  farmer  of  Richland  County,  residing  on 
^  section  34,  Noble  Township,  was  born  in 
Clinton  County,  111.,  September  27,  1861.  His  fa- 
ther, Joshua  N.  Alvord,  was  born  in  New  York, 
August  20,  1823,  and  acquired  a  good  academic 
education.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  before  attaining  his  majority.  When  a 
young  man  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  after  a 
few  years  went  to  St.  Louis,  acting  as  superin- 
tendent of  construction  on  the  telegraph  line  along 
the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad  from  Cincinnati 
to  St.  Louis.  He  leased  the  line  and  operated  it 
himself  for  several  years,  being  an  expert  operator. 
Twelve  years  were  spent  in  this  way,  but  about 
1860  he  removed  to  Clinton  County,  111.,  where 
he  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising.  In  1865,  he 
came  to  Richland  County,  locating  in  Decker 
Township.  He  purchased  land,  obtaining  some 
from  the  Government,  and  at  one  time  owned 
fourteen  hundred  acres  in  this  county.  In  1881, 
he  removed  to  Missouri  and  from  there  to  Texas. 
He  now  owns  a  ranch  of  ten  thousand  acres  in 
Callahan  County.  He  started  out  in  life  by  teach- 
ing school,  but  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward to  a  position  of  wealth  and  affluence,  his 
good  business  judgment  and  tact,  combined  with 
his  industry  and  enterprise,  having  gained  him  a 
handsome  fortune. 

Mr.  Alvord  was  married  in  Michigan  to  Louisa 
Hickok,  of  that  State.  They  had  four  children: 
Helen,  wife  of  Mr.  Junkins,  of  Decker  Township; 
Clara,  deceased;  and  Albert  and  Henry,  whom  we 
will  mention  later  on.  In  Clinton  County  the  fa- 
ther was  again  married,  this  time  to  Jennie  Leav- 
enworth,  of  Vermont,  who  died  leaving  two  chil- 


394 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dren:  Frank  E.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Fred,  of 
Texas.  For  his  third  wife,  Mr.  Alvord  wedded 
Mary  Juukins,  by  whom  he  has  two  daughters: 
Louisa,  wife  of  R.  D.  Williams,  of  Texas;  and 
Ella  S. 

Mr.  Alvord  served  as  Supervisor  and  as  Commis- 
sioner and  held  other  local  offices.  He  has  been 
a  life-long  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  a  life-long  Democrat. 

Albert  Lewis  Alvord,  who  was  born  in  St.  Louis 
January  6,  1853,  went  with  his  parents  to  Clinton 
County,  and  at  the  age  of  seven  came  to  Richland 
County.  In  1888,  he  traveled  through  Texas, 
New  Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  bought  four  thou- 
sand sheep.  After  two  years  spent  in  Texas,  he 
went  to  Kansas,  returning  to  this  county  in  1891, 
since  which  time  he  has  operated  his  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres.  He  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1884,  to  Alvina,  daughter  of  James  L. 
Shields.  They  have  four  children:  Ethel,  Fred, 
Harold  and  Shields.  In  politics,  A.  L.  Alvord  is 
a  supporter  of  the  People's  party,  and  belongs  to 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association. 

Henry  Alvord  owns  and  operates  six  hundred 
acres  of  land,  one-half  of  which  was  given  him  by 
his  father,  and  he  resides  on  section  34,  Decker 
Township.  lie  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  De- 
cember 21,  1859,  and  came  to  this  county  at  the 
age  of  four.  Like  his  brothers,  he  was  educated 
in  the  district  schools  and  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  had  attained  man's  estate.  On  the 
25lh  of  September,  1885,  he  wedded  Miss  Eva  B. 
Rawlings,  daughter  of  Shadrach  and  Belle  Raw- 
lings,  of  Olney  Township.  They  have  three  sons 
and  a  daughter:  John  R.,  Jay  N.,  Clara  M.  and 
Julc  H.  Mr.  Alvord  has  served  two  years  as 
Highway  Commissioner.  In  politics,  lie  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  The  Alvord  brothers 
are  among  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  the 
county,  and  belong  to  one  of  its  leading  and  rep- 
resentative families. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Frank  Alvord  were  spent 
in  Decker  Township  herding  cattle.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-four,  he  began  working  for  himself.  He 
went  to  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and  Texas,  spend- 
ing four  years  in  the  West,  and  commencing  his 


journeys  in  1885.  He  has  now  been  living  on 
his  present  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twent}- 
acres  five  years.  It  is  a  fine  place,  containing 
an  eighty-acre  orchard  and  all  the  improvements 
and  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

Mr.  Alvord  was  married  February  2,  1888,  to 
Miss  Eva  Hedrick,  one  of  the  fair  daughters  of 
Decker  Township.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  a  daughter,  Ella  Frances,  born  June  21,  1889. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  young  wife  are 
numbered  among  the  leading  citizens  of  this  com- 
munity, ranking  high  in  social  circles.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  having 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Grover  Cleveland  in  1884. 
Mr.  Alvord  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  successful  and  pro- 
gressive agriculturists  of  the  community. 


CLARK  is  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Jasper  County,  and  resides  on  section  31, 
Granville  Township,  where  he  has  a  pleas- 
ant home  and  good  farm.  Within  the  boundaries 
of  his  farm  are  comprised  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  The  rich  and  fertile  fields,  so  neat 
in  appearance,  and  the  well-kept  buildings  upon 
the  place,  all  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of 
the  owner. 

Mr.  Clark  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born 
near  Shelby ville,  Shelb}'  County,  April  4,  1839, 
and  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter born  unto  Henry  and  MaryJ.  (Gosnell)  Clark. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  the 
mother  of  Virginia.  When  a  boy  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  and  in  Dearborn  Coun- 
ty, where  the  family  located,  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  married  in  1823,  and  shortly  afterward  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Shelby  Count}',  Ind., 
where  he  entered  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
acres  of  land  from  the  Government.  There  he  made 
his  home  until  1843.  The  succeeding  eight  years 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


395 


of  his  life  were  spent  in  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  and 
in  1851  he  took  up  his  residence  upon  the  farm  in 
Granville  Township,  Jasper  County,  which  is  now 
the  home  of  our  subject.  From  the  Government 
he  secured  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  lie  made  his  home  until  his  death,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1871.  He  was  a  preacher  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  followed  the  ministry  from 
1851  until  1871.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
Bethel  Cemetery.  Thus  one  of  the  noble  pioneers 
of  this  community  passed  to  his  rest.  His  wife, 
who  was  a  member  of  the  same  church,  died  June 
6,  1872,  and  was  laid  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

George  Clark  was  a  lad  of  twelve  summers  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Jasper  County.  With 
the  history  of  the  community  he  has  since  been 
identified.  His  school  privileges  were  quite  limited, 
in  fact  he  was  largely  self-educated.  He  has 
earned  his  own  livelihood  since  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  was 
employed  as  a  farm  hand.  Prompted  b}'  patriotic 
impulses,  he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for 
troops,  August  2,  1861,  and  as  a  private  of  Com- 
pany II,  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  was  mus- 
tered into  service  at  Springfield.  He  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Fredericktown  CMo).,  Perryville  (Ky)., 
Stone  Kiver,  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  and 
nearly  all  the  engagements  from  Chattanooga  to 
Atlanta,  together  with  many  others  of  lesser  im- 
portance. He  was  very  fortunate,  in  that  he  was 
never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  yet  lie  saw  much 
hard  service  and  was  always  found  at  his  post, 
faithful  to  every  duty.  On  the  15th  of  September, 
1864,  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

The  following  spring,  after  his  return  from  the 
war,  Mr.  Clark  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  31,  Granville  Township,  and  began  farm- 
ing for  himself.  He  there  lived  until  1873,  when 
he  returned  to  his  father's  old  homestead,  which 
has  since  been  his  place  of  abode.  As  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss 
Kmily,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Caroline  Chapman. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  November  13,  1866, 
and  has  been  blessed  with  eleven  children:  William, 
Amos  W.,  Mai  ion  F.,  Joseph  II.,  Samuel,  Lyman 
E.,  Arthur  D.,  Lennie  Etta,  Mary  A.,  Martha  J. 
and  Luther  R.  The  mother  died  May  7,  1890,  and 


was  laid  to  rest  in  Hunt  Cemetery,  her  death  being 
mourned  by  many  friends  as  well  as  by  her  imme- 
diate family. 

Mr.  Clark  still  keeps  up  his  old  war  acquaint- 
ances through  his  membership  with  the  Grand 
Army  post.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a  stalwart 
Republican  since  the  organization  of  the  party, 
and  has  acceptably  filled  the  position  of  Commis- 
ioner  of  Highways.  He  is  recognized  as  a  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  is  highly  respected  by  all  who 
know  him.  During  his  long  residence  in  Jasper 
County,  he  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  work  of 
upbuilding  and  advancement,  and  the  community 
recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen. 


JOSEPH  PARTRIDGE,  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Effingham,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Illinois  since  1867,  and  six 
years  later  he  came  to  ErBngham,  where  he 
has  resided  continuously  since.  He  has  been  prom- 
inently connected  with  the  best  interests  of  the 
city,  and  with  pleasure  we  present  to  our  readers 
this  record  of  his  life  work.  He  was  born  in 
Meade  County,  Ky.,  near  Branden burgh,  on  the 
26th  of  July,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Elsie  (Brown)  Partridge.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  was  born  in  the  Shenandoah  \ral- 
ley  in  that  State  in  1802,  and  died  in  1875.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Meade  County,  Ky.,  and  is 
now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  such  educa- 
tional advantages  as  were  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  resided. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  started  to  make  his 
own  way  in  the  world,  depending  entirely  upon 
his  own  efforts.  When  thirteen  years  of  age 
he  removed  with  his  parents  from  his  native 
State,  the  family  taking  up  their  residence  in  Ev- 
ansville,  Ind.,  where  he  served  an  apprenticeship 
to  the  painter's  trade.  He  continued  to  make  his 
home  in  Evansville  until  November,  1861,  five 
years  of  the  time  being  employed  as  express 


396 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


messenger  for  the  Adams  Express  Company,  after 
which  he  went  to  Cairo,  111.,  and  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Adams  Express  Company  at  that  place, 
serving  as  their  agent  at  Cairo  during  the  war. 
He  continued  an  employe  of  that  company  for 
eleven  years,  after  which  he  was  employed  by  the 
Merchants'  Union  Express  Company  at  St.  Joseph, 
Mo.,  serving  as  route  agent  fora  period  of  two  and 
a-half  years.  In  1868  he  embarked  in  the  hotel 
business  in  Richmond  and  Lexington  Junction,  on 
the  old  North  Missouri  Railroad,  continuing  at 
that  place  for  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Jew- 
ett,  111.,  on  the  Vandalia  Railroad,  where  lie  kept 
a  railway  eating-house  until  early  in  1873. 

On  disposing  of  his  business  in  Jewett,  Mr.  Part- 
ridge came  to  Efflngham  and  leased  the  Effing- 
liam  Hotel,  which  he  operated  successfully  for  six 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  in  Novem- 
ber, ]  878,  he  purchased  the  old  Pacific  House,  a 
frame  building  at  the  junction  of  the  Vandalia 
and  Illinois  Central  Railroads.  The  same  year  he 
built  the  brick  structure  on  Banker  Street  now 
known  as  the  Pacific  House.  It  is  63x45  feet, 
three  and  a-half  stories  in  height,  with  a  basement, 
and  has  thirty-four  rooms.  This  house  is  steam 
heated  and  is  well  fitted  for  hotel  purposes.  Mr. 
Partridge  also  erected  in  1880  a  three-story  brick 
building  with  basement  at  the  Junction,  which  has 
a  dining-room,  lunch-room,  office  and  sixteen 
sleeping-rooms.  It  is  also  steam  heated.  The  two 
houses,  which  are  near  together,  are  operated  as 
one,  under  the  name  of  the  Pacific  House.  They 
are  now  leased  and  carried  on  by  B.  C.  Smith,  a 
brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Partridge.  The  Pacific 
House  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  having 
good  sample  rooms  and  modern  conveniences,  and 
is  well  kept,  being  the  only  first-class  hotel  in  the 
city  of  Eflingham.  In  1892,  Mr.  Partridge  pur- 
chased the  Fleming  House,  near  the  business  cen- 
ter, which  he  now  also  leases.  While  our  subject 
personally  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  he  was  a 
most  popular  landlord,  and  not  only  pleased  his 
patrons,  but  made  the  business  a  paying  one. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Partridge  opened  a  private  bank- 
ing house  at  Efflngham,  which  after  a  brief  period 
was  conducted  by  his  son,  Joseph  Partridge,  Jr., 
who  held  the  position  of  Cashier.  After  a  success- 


ful career  of  five  years  the  private  banking  busi- 
ness was  merged  into  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Effingham,  with  Joseph  Partridge  as  President,  and 
Joseph  Partridge,  Jr.,  Cashier.  A  history  of  the 
bank  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Part- 
ridge continued  to  operate  the  Pacific  House  until 
July  10,  1892,  when  he  leased  it  to  B.  C.  Smith, 
its  present  proprietor,  and  retired  from  active  hotel 
business. 

In  April,  1869,  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mr.  Partridge 
was  married  to  Miss  Alice  Smith.  The  lady  is  a 
native  of  that  city  and  is  a  daughter  of  Bernard 
and  Bridget  Smith.  By  the  union  of  this  worthy 
couple  have  been  born  four  children,  three  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Joseph,  Jr.,  is  Cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Effingham,  and  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work;  Elsie,  the  daughter,  is  a 
student  in  Sacred  Heart  (St.  Louis)  College;  Paul 
also  attends  the  same  school; and  Hugh,  who  com- 
pletes the  family,  is  still  at  home. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Partridge  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democracy.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
City  Council  of  Efflngham  and  also  as  Mayor  of 
the  city,  and  was  President  of  the  Effingham 
School  Board  for  three  years.  lie  proved  himself 
a  capable  and  efficient  public  officer.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  Echo  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W. 

Mr.  Partridge  has  always  been  active  and  influ- 
ential in  the  support  of  local  enterprises  calculated 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  city,  and  has 
been  very  liberal  in  support  of  religious  and  edu- 
cational institutions.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to 
contribute,  and  he  contributed  liberally,  toward 
building  and  equipping  Austin  College,  of  which 
institution  he  has  been  Treasurer  since  it  was 
founded.  He  helped  to  establish  the  Effingham 
Canning  and  Wood  Package  Company,  and  was 
president  of  the  same  for  a  time,  being  elected  to 
the  position  on  its  organization.  He  is  still  a 
shareholder  in  the  same,  and  the  bank  of  which  he 
is  president  acts  as  the  company's  treasurer. 

Mr.  Partridge  is  a  plain,  unassuming  man, 
whose  success  in  life  has  been  the  result  of  his  own 
untiring  and  industrious  efforts  and  his  business 
sagacity.  As  a  landlord  he  was  very  popular,  and 
is  widely  known,  especially  among  railroad  men, 
from  which  class  he  has  always  had  a  large  pat- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


ronage.  Among  them  lie  is  universally  known  as 
"Jo."  Mr.  1'artndge  is  quite  fond  of  hunting,  and 
always  keeps  some  good  guns  and  well-trained 
dogs.  His  guests  can  testify  to  his  success  as  a 
shot,  as  quail  on  toast  in  season  is  a  regular  morn- 
ing treat  at  his  table,  and  other  game  is  also  lib- 
erally supplied  when  the  game  laws  permit. 


*=* 


J^OHN  W.  FINDLEY,  an  early  settler  of 
Richland  County,  residing  on  a  farm  on  sec- 
!  tion  26,  Decker  Township,  well  deserves 
'  representation  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
county,  which  recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen. 
On  the  12th  of  August.  1843,  in  Jackson  County, 
Ind.,  his  birth  occurred.  He  is  a  son  of  Hugh 
Findley,  who  was  born  in  Jennings  County,  Ind., 
June  14,  1818,  but  was  reared  in  Jackson  County, 
where  he  followed  farming  throughout  his  entire 
life.  He  there  married  Phcebe  Dunn,  a  native  of 
the  same  State.  In  1855,  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Missouri,  and  in  1858  became  a  resident 
of  Decker  Township,  Richland  County,  111.  In  the 
midst  of  the  forest  he  hewed  out  a  farm  and  to  its 
cultivation  devoted  his  energies  for  some  years. 
He  is  now  living  a  retired  life  with  his  son  in 
Bonpas  Township.  He  and  his  wife  were  both 
members  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  Whig,  but  since  the  dissolution  of  that  party 
has  supported  the  Democracy.  The  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  numbered  three  sons:  John  W.,  of 
tliis  sketch;  Michael,  of  Bonpas  Township;  and 
Hugh,  also  a  farmer  of  that  township. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  twelve  years  of  his 
life  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Indiana,  and  then  ac- 
companied his  parents  to  Missouri.  When  a  lad 
of  fifteen  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  has  since  been  a 
resident  of  Richland  County.  He  began  to  earn 
his  own  livelihood  by  working  for  the  neighboring 
farmers,  but  in  1862  he  abandoned  that  employ- 
ment and  on  the  7th  of  July  offered  his  services  to 
the  Government.  He  enlisted  at  Noble,  in  Com- 


pany II,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  under 
Capt.  Thomas  Johnson  and  Col.  John  J.  Funk- 
houser.  The  regiment  assembled  at  Centralia,  went 
to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  on  the  16th  of  March,  1863, 
the  troops  were  mounted.  When  en  route  for 
Louisville,  the  train  was  wrecked  at  Bridgeport, 
111.,  and  five  were  killed  and  seventy-five  wounded. 
Mr.  Findley  did  scouting  and  guard  duty  in  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Atlanta, 
Rome,  Selma,  Resaca,  Dalton  and  Tullahoma.  He 
went  with  Sherman  to  Jonesboro,  then  back  to 
Nashville  to  head  off  Hood,  and  to  Louisville,  after 
which  the  troops  again  went  to  Nashville,  then  on 
to  Gravelly  Springs,  Ala.,  and  Eastport,  Miss.,  and 
by  way  of  Monticello  and  Ebenezer  Church  to 
Selma,  which  place  they  succeeded  in  capturing. 
After  the  battle  of  Columbus,  in  which  they  par- 
ticipated, they  went  to  Macon,  Ga.  Later  they 
were  mustered  out  at  Edgefield,  Tenn.,  and  return- 
ing to  the  North  our  subject  was  discharged  July 
7,  1865,  having  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Sergeant.  For  three  years  he  faithfully  served 
his  countrj',  ably  defending  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
which  now  float  so  proudly  over  the  united  Nation. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Findle3r  embarked 
in  farming,  at  first  operating  rented  land.  By  his 
industry,  economy  and  good  management,  however, 
he  was  enabled  to  acquire  some  capital,  which  he 
invested  in  land.  It  was  in  1881  that  he  purchased 
eighty  acres,  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  It 
is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  well- 
tilled  fields  and  many  excellent  improvements  in- 
dicate the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  practical  and  pro- 
gressive ideas. 

On  the  24th  of  October,  1867,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Findley  and  Miss  Maria  Gilkison, 
a  native  of  Wabash  County,  111.  Her  father,  Jon- 
athan Gilkison,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  and  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  He  aided  in  the  survey  of  Richland  County, 
and  was  one  of  its  most  prominent  settlers  in  an 
early  day.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Delilah  Tanquary,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Findley  has  been  born  a  daugh- 
ter, Fannie,  who  was  educated  atOlney  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  I.  M.  Henry,  a  leading  and  intelligent 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


young  farmer  of  Decker  Township,  by  whom  she 
has  one  child,  Raymond  Findley.  Our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  also  reared  William  L.  Carter,  who 
came  to  them  when  nine  years  of  age,  and  is  now 
a  young  man  of  seventeen. 

Mr.  Findley  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  belonging  to  the  post  in  Olney.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He 
served  as  Collector  one  term,  but  has  never  sought 
or  desired  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  of- 
fice, preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Seymour  in  1868,  and  was  a 
Democrat  until  1884, since  which  time  he  has  voted 
the  Prohibition  ticket.  The  cause  of  temperance 
finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  as  do  all  interests  cal- 
culated to  prove  of  public  benefit.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  man  and  gives  his  aid  to  everything 
tending  to  promote  general  welfare.  In  his  busi- 
ness career  he  has  met  with  prosperity,  and,  al- 
though he  began  life  empty-handed,  he  has  worked 
his  way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence.  His 
success  is  well  merited,  for  he  has  labored  earnestly 
and  his  career  has  been  a  straightforward  and  hon- 
orable one. 


i>HE  FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK  of  Effing- 
ham,  111.,  was  incorporated  in  March,  1890, 
and  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  private  bank- 
ing house  of  Jo  Partridge,  which  did  a  successful 
business  in  this  city  from  1885  until  the  time 
when  it  was  merged  into  the  present  national 
bank.  The  First  National  Bank  was  incorporated 
with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $50,000.  Jo  Partridge 
was  elected  President  and  Edward  Austin  Vice- 
President;  J.  Partridge,  Jr.,  was  made  Cashier;  and 
C.  L.  Notte  Assistant  Cashier.  The  following- 
named  gentlemen  constitute  its  Board  of  Directors: 
Jo  Partridge,  Edward  Austin,  F.  W.  Ilazelton, 
J.  H.  Ensign  and  J.  P.  Ilaselton. 

The  bank   has  had  a  prosperous  and   profitable 


career  from  the  start  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
and  favor  of  its  patrons  in  a  marked  degree.  At 
this  writing  it  has  been  in  business  only  about 
three  years.  During  this  time  it  has  paid  semi- 
annual dividends  of  three  and  a-half  per  cent.,  and 
has  a  surplus  and  undivided  profit  of  $10,000.  The 
business  of  the  bank  has  been  conducted  by  its  ef- 
ficient and  faithful  young  cashier,  who  assumed 
Hie  responsible  duties  of  his  position  in  his  twen- 
ty-first year,  and  who  for  nearly  four  years  prior 
to  that  time  had  been  cashier  in  his  father's  private 
bank  and  in  sole  charge  of  its  practical  operations. 
The  First  National  Bank  has  not  only  been  suc- 
cessful, but  has  never  lost  a  cent,  and  it  takes 
foremost  rank  among  the  financial  institutions  of 
southeastern  Illinois.  The  well-known  personal  re- 
sponsibility of  its  proprietors,  and  their  well-estab- 
lished record  as  successful  business  men  of  unques- 
tioned integrity,  is  a  sure  guarantee  for  the  future 
prosperity  of  the  bank  and  of  its  hold  on  the 
favor  of  its  patrons. 


»HE  EFFINGHAM  PLANING  MILL  is  one 
of  the  important  industries  of  Effinghara. 
In  January,  1893,  it  was  incorporated  as  a 
stock  company  under  the  name  of  the  Effingham 
Planing  Mill,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000.  Its 
officers  are:  Calvin  Austin,  President;  Edward 
Austin,  Treasurer;  and  Harry  B.  Austin,  Secretary 
and  Manager.  They  are  dealers  in  hardwood  lum- 
ber, white  wood  and  pine  lumber,  sash,  doors,  blinds 
and  mouldings.  They  also  manufacture  doors  and 
window  frames  and  do  general  job  work  in  the 
line  of  building.  Their  business  was  established 
in  February,  1892.  The  company's  mill,  which 
was  built  at  that  time,  is  situated  just  north  of  the 
Vandalia  Railroad  shops,  and  in  dimensions  is 
216x44  feet.  It  also  includes  the  Effingham  elec- 
tric-light plant.  Their  power  is  furnished  by  a 
ninety-five  horse  power  engine  and  the  mill  is  com- 
plete in  all  its  appointments,  being  supplied  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


399 


the  best  modern  machinery  for  all  sorts  of  wood- 
work pertaining  to  the  erection  of  fine  buildings. 
Particular  attention  is  paid  to  artistic  interior- 
finish  work,  and  a  specialty  is  made  of  fine  wood 
mantels.  The  erection  of  the  plant  for  this  com- 
pany and  the  management  of  its  business  has  been 
under  the  immediate  direction  of  H.  B.  Austin 
from  the  beginning. 

Although  at  this  writing  the  business  is  but  a  year 
old,  it  has  developed  a  trade  of  nearly  $100,000 
for  the  year.  It  has  been  so  very  successful  that 
it  has  far  exceeded  the  expectations  of  its  proprie- 
tors and  has  come  to  be  one  of  the  leading  industries 
of  Kffingham.  Its  proprietors  and  manager  are 
thorough  mechanics,  and  in  connection  with  the 
business  above  described  they  also  do  contracting 
and  building  on  quite  an  extensive  scale.  The  fine 
finishing  material  used  in  the  elegant  residence  of 
Calvin  Austin,  and  in  the  new  bank  block  and  opera 
house  known  as  the  Austin  Block,  is  from  their 
works. 


>>HE  HOPE  ROLLER  MILLS,  of  Teutopolis, 
of  which  Uptmor  &  Siemer,  millers  and 
grain  dealers,  arc  proprietors,  was  erected 
and  put  in  operation  in  1882  by  its  present 
owners.  The  members  of  the  firm  are  Clement 
Uptmor,  Sr.,  Clement  Uptmor,  Jr.,  and  Joseph 
Siemer.  The  mill  is  built  of  stone  and  brick,  is 
operated  by  steam,  is  equipped  with  the  best  mod- 
ern machinery  for  roller-process  work,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  barrels 
daily,  doing  both  merchant  and  custom  work  and 
general  milling.  This  mill,  which  is  one  of  the 
very  best  in  Eastern  Illinois,  has  borne  an  enviable 
reputation  for  its  excellent  work  and  for  the  fair 
dealing  of  its  proprietors. 

The  mill  products  are  shipped  to  and  sold  in 
Eastern  cities  largely,  and  an  extensive  foreign 
trade  is  also  carried  on,  the  products  being  ex- 
ported to  London  (England),  Antwerp  (Belgium), 
Glasgow  (Scotland)  and  Belfast  (Ireland).  Exclu- 


sive of  the  two  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain 
consumed  in  milling,  this  firm  buys  and  ships  an- 
nually about  forty-five  thousand  bushels.  Joseph 
Siemer  is  the  resident  managing  partner,  and  has 
made  the  business  an  assured  success. 


!>HE  PEOPLE'S  BANK,  located  in  Newton, 
Jasper  County,  111.,  is  the  only  banking 
house  in  Jasper  County.  O.  S.  Scott  is  its 
proprietor  and  cashier.  The  bank  was  established 
on  the  1st  of  June,  1875,  by  John  A.  Brown,  John 
Mason  and  Bernard  Fuller.  It  was  conducted  by 
these  gentlemen  until  July,  1885,  when  Mr.  Scott 
became  sole  proprietor. 

The  institution  does  a  general  banking  business, 
receives  deposits,  buys  and  sells  exchange,  makes 
collections,  etc.  The  capital  represented  is  $15,- 
000,  and  its  standard  is  based  on  the  well-known 
landed  and  personal  possessions  of  its  proprietor, 
on  his  high  standing  as  a  conservative  financier 
and  his  well-known  integrity. 


DAM  A.  FRANKE,  M.  D.,  a  prominent 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Newton,  is  a  na- 
tive of  that  city,  his  birth  having  there 
occurred  September  13,  1852.  He  is  the 
eldest  surviving  son  of  the  late  Dr.  John  G. 
Franke,  a  prominent  pioneer,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

The  Doctor,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  town  and  at- 
tended its  public  schools,  after  which  he  entered 
upon  a  course  of  study  in  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan 
College  of  Teutopolis.  From  the  time  he  was  old 
enough  to  be  of  any  service  he  assisted  his  father 
in  the  drug  store,  compounding  and  preparing 
medicines,  and  when  he  was  of  sufficient  age  took 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


entire  charge  of  the  business,  which  he  conducted 
in  his  own  name  until  1876.  He  then  retired  from 
the  store  to  take  a  course  of  medical  lectures.  He 
had  previously  studied  under  his  father's  direc- 
tion, and  in  1876  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Louisville  Medical  College,  of  Louisville,  Ky. 
Subsequently  he  pursued  a  second  course  in  the 
Kentucky  School  of  Medicine  in  the  same  cit}', 
whence  he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '77. 
The  following  fall  he  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  his  native  town,  and  has  since 
carried  it  on  with  marked  success. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1880,  Dr.  Franke 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Newton  with  Miss  Liz- 
zie Nigh,  a  native  of  this  city,  and  a  daughter  of 
Fuller  Nigh,  Esq.,  a  pioneer  settler  and  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Newton,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Franke  have  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter: 
Clara  B.,  born  February  21,  1883;  and  John 
Fuller,  born  December  18,  1892. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge  No. 
216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  also  of  Newton  Lodge  No. 
253,  K.  P.;  and  of  Newton  Camp  No.  479,  M.  W.  A. 
He  is  ph3'sician  and  surgeon  for  the  Peoria,  Deea- 
tur  &  Evansville  Railroad  Company,  and  has  held 
that  office  for  four  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
National  Association  of  Railway  Surgeons,  and 
has  met  with  that  body  for  several  years  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  country.  Dr.  Franke  is  also  the 
owner  of  a  well-equipped  livery  stable  of  Newton, 
the  best  in  Jasper  County,  the  management  of 
which  he  directs.  He  is  also  proprietor  of  a  fine 
orchard  of  seventy-five  acres,  which  lies  near  the 
city  of  Newton,  and  which  is  just  coming  into 
bearing. 

Dr.  Frank  is  so  well  and  wide!}'  known  among 
the  citizens  of  Jasper  and  adjoining  counties,  that 
particular  mention  of  his  ability  and  success  seems 
almost  superfluous,  but  as  this  work  is  designed  to 
be  a  permanent  record  which  will  outlive  the 
memory  of  the  present  generation,  it  will  not  be 
out  of  place  to  state  that  he  possesses  superior 
ability,  and  is  thoroughly  well  read  in  the  line  of 
his  profession.  He  has  been  eminently  successful 
and  lias  succeeded  in  building  up  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  blessed  with  a  genial, 


kindly  disposition  and  a  physique  suggestive  of. 
manly  vigor  and  robust  health,  so  that  his  mere 
presence  in  a  sick  room  is  cheering  and  invigorat- 
ing to  his  patients.  As  his  and  his  father's  rec- 
ords show,  he  comes  of  a  family  of  physicians. 
His  father,  his  grandfather,  his  uncles  and  broth- 
ers have  been,  or  arc  now,  members  of  that  profes- 
sion. 


>ILLIAM  SNIDER,  a  farmer  residing  on 
section  19,  Bonpas  Township,  Richland 
County,  was  born  in  Woerth,  on  the 
Rhine,  Germany,  October  10,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Drum)  Snider.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
at  the  age  of  twelve  jrears  began  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  linen  weaver,  which  he  followed  until  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  took  part  in  the  rebellion 
of  southern  Germany,  and  was  obliged  to  flee  for 
his  life.  Escaping  through  Paris  to  Havre,  he  em- 
barked for  America. 

On  reaching  this  country,  Mr.  Snider  located  in 
LaFayette,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  pump-mak- 
ing until  1860.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Richland 
Count}'  and  bought  a  part  of  his  present  farm,  then 
wild  land.  He  built  a  house  and  cleared  about 
ten  acres,  which  he  also  plowed  and  planted.  The 
Civil  War  having  then  broken  out,  he  enlisted 
September  27,  1862,  in  Company  H,  Fourteenth 
Illinois  Cavalry,  and  received  his  discharge  in 
September,  1865.  He  first  did  skirmishing  and 
scouting  duty  through  East  Tennessee,  a,nd  was  in 
engagements  at  Knoxville,  Appington,  Mosa 
Creek  Station  and  Jonesboro,  also  at  Dalton,  Ga. 
During  the  Stoneman  raid  around  Atlanta,  he 
was  captured,  June  27,  1864,  and  remained  a  pris- 
oner until  the  following  December,  being  incarcer- 
ated part  of  the  time  at  Andersonville,  and  the 
remainder  at  Florence,  S.  C.  While  there  he  and 
a  companion  shared  their  camp-fire  with  another 
sick  prisoner^*  a  stranger  to  them.  During  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


401 


night  the  stranger  died.  On  his  person  they 
found  three  photographs,  which  Mr.  Snider  still 
has  iu  his  possession,  having  never  found  the 
owner  of  them.  He  and  his  companion  left  for 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  next  morning,.leaving  the  body 
of  their  comrade  where  it  lay.  After  being  nearly 
starved  to  death,  Mr.  Snider  was  released  on  a 
special  parole  and  returned  home.  He  was  soon 
afterward  exchanged  and  rejoined  his  regiment 
and  received  his  discharge. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Snyder  returned  to 
his  farm  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  now  owns  eigh- 
ty-six acres  of  good  land  all  under  cultivation. 
The  farm  is  well  equipped,  with  good  buildings, 
the  latest  improved  machinery  and  all  other  mod- 
ern accessories.  He  has  also  bought  and  sold  sev- 
eral tracts  of  land  in  the  neighborhood,  making 
some  advantageous  speculations.  For  many  years 
he  was  also  engaged  in  breeding  horses,  but  011  ac- 
count of  failing  health  he  has  largely  laid  aside 
business  interests. 

In  November,  1856,  Mr.  Snider  married  Marga- 
ret Augsberger,  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio,and  unto  them 
were  born  five  children :  Mary,  wife  of  J.  Brown ; 
Caroline,  wife  of  O.  Holbach;  Mrs.  Louisa  Myer; 
Anna,  wife  of  J.  Shonerd;  and  William  H.,  now 
of  Los  Angeles,  Cal.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  in  1867,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year 
Mr.  Snider  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Key)  Dodds. 
Her  first  husband,  Samuel  C.  Dodds,  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  during  the  late  war. 
By  this  marriage  were  born  two  children:  Fannie, 
wife  of  II.  Whittaker;  and  Charles  F.,  now  of 
Greensboro,  N.  G.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Snider  died,  and 
in  June,  1878,  Mrs.  Eliza  Smith  became  the  wife 
of  our  'subject.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Arm- 
strong, of  Wabash  County,  111.,  and  first  married 
Oliver  S.  Hill,  by  whom  she  had  two  children, 
Pinkney  S.  and  Thomas  C.  After  the  death  of  Mr. 
Hill,  which  occurred  September  27,  1868,  she  mar- 
ried Abner  T.  Smith,  who  died  in  January,  1878, 
leaving  three  children,  William  II.,  Mary  E.  and 
Lewis  E.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snider  have  three  chil- 
dren: James  Ira,  Myra  O.  and  Cassie  M. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  socially  Mr.  Snider  is  connected  with 


the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  has  supported  each  Presidential  candidate  of 
that  party  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  U. 
S.  Grant.  He  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  po- 
litical honors,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  He  never 
attended  school  in  America,  but  after  coming  to 
this  country  taught  himself  to  read  and  write  the 
English  language,  and  is  now  a  well-informed  man. 
In  1890  he  made  a  trip  to  Germany,  spending  sev- 
eral months  in  the  Fatherland.  While  there  he 
wrote  several  letters  to  the  Olney  Republican,  de- 
scribing the  condition  of  affairs  in  Germany,  and 
these  letters  show  thoughtful  consideration  of  the 
subject  and  careful  preparation  on  the  part  of  the 
writer.  Mr.  Snider  has  been  a  valued  citizen  of  the 
community  and  one  well  worthy  of  representa- 
tion in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 


JASPER  I.  MOUTRAY,  attorney  and   coun- 
selor at  law,  of    Olney,  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Bar  of  Richland  County  since  August, 
1883.    A  native  of  Illinois,  our  subject  was 

born  in  Wayne  County,  in  1857.  He  is  a  son  of 
James  Moutray,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  and  was 
of  Irish  descent.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
Jasper  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  The  pat- 
ronymic was  Moultrie  and  some  branches  of  the 
family  still  spell  the  name  in  that  way.  The  emi- 
nent Moultrie  family  of  South  Carolina,  which 
was  a  prominent  one  in  the  struggle  for  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Colonies,  sprang  from  the  same 
Irish  ancestry.  Gen.  Moultrie,  of  Revolutionary 
fame  and  for  whom  Ft.  Moultrie  was  called,  was  a 
brother  of  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject. 
The  great-grandfather,  leaving  the  Emerald  Isle, 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America  and  settled 
in  Virginia  when  his  son  Allen,  the  grandfather 
of  Jasper,  was  but  a  child  of  three  years.  From 
Virginia  the  family  removed  to  Posey  County, 
Ind.,  and  from  there  to  Wayne  County,  111., 


402 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


where  both  the  grandfather  and  great-grandfather 
passed  the  last  years  of  their  lives.  Mrs.  Moutray, 
widow  of  Allen  and  grandmother  of  Jasper,  was 
born  in  England  in  1800,  and  is  still  living  in 
Edwards  County,  111. 

James  Moutray  was  a  lad  of  about  thirteen  when 
the  family  removed  to  Illinois.  There  he  attained 
to  man's  estate  and  married  Amanda  E.  Herald- 
son,  who  was  also  born  in  Indiana.  Her  father, 
William  Heraldsori,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  removed  to  Indiana  in  early  life.  He  was  a 
well-educated  man  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
teaching  for  many  years.  He  located  in  Wayne 
County,  111.,  at  quite  an  early  day.  The  parents 
of  our  subject  are  now  residents  of  Litchfield,  111. 
The  father  is  a  traveling  salesman,  being  employed 
by  the  Litchfield  Agricultural  Manufacturing  Corn- 
pan}',  of  that  place.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
the  eldest  of  four  brothers.  William  W.,  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth,  is  a  farmer  residing  in 
Litchfield.  Mark  O.  is  now  engaged  in  the  study 
of  law  with  his  brother  al  Olney,  111.;  and  Van  O. 
is  a  lawyer  by  profession,  residing  in  Sumner,  111. 
He  is  also  connected  with  the  publication  of  the 
Sumner  Democrat. 

Jasper  I.  Moutray,  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord, grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and 
obtained  his  early  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  county.  This  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  study  in  the  Fairfield  graded  schools.  In 
January,  1881,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law 
in  Noble  and  completed  his  legal  studies  with 
Messrs.  Hanna  &  Adams  in  Fairfield.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  August,  1883,  and  on  the  3d 
of  December  following  located  in  Olney,  where  he 
has  since  engaged  in  successful  practice. 

The  lad}'  who  now  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Mou- 
tray was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Priscilla  L. 
Eritchie.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Madeline  Louise. 
Mr.  Moutray  is  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and 
Chapter  of  the  Masonic  order.  His  first  official 
position  was  that  of  United  States  Commissioner 
of  the  Southern  District  of  Illinois,  to  which  he 
was  appointed  by  Judge  Treat  in  1885.  At  the 
November  election  of  1888  he  was  elected  State's 
Attorney  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  receiving  a 


majority  in  every  town  in  the  county.  He  accept- 
ably served  in  that  capacity  for  four  years.  He 
was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  in  1891  and 
occupies  that  position  at  this  writing,  and  was 
Chairman  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee  in 
1889  and  1890.  In  his  early  professional  practice 
Mr.  Moutray  was  associated  with  R.  N.  McCauley, 
which  partnership  was  dissolved  when  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney.  Although  having  prac- 
ticed ten  years,  our  subject  has  won  excellent  suc- 
cess, secured  a  liberal  patronage  and  gained  a  high 
reputation  among  his  professional  brethren.  He 
possesses  fine  legal  attainments,  is  a  successful 
lawyer  and  an  enterprising  and  progressive  citi- 
zen. 


ENRY  HUBRICII,  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court 
and  Recorder  of  Effingham  County,  lias  the 
honor  of  being  a  native-born  citizen  of 
Illinois.  His  birth  occurred  in  Chicago  on 
the  loth  of  March,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Augusta  (Bumchala)  Hubrich,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Prussia,  near  Berlin,  the  father  in 
1822,  and  the  mother  in  1828.  The  parents  were 
married  in  the  Old  Country,  where  they  resided 
until  1856,  when  they  bade  good-bye  to  home  and 
friends  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States.  On 
reaching  this  country  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  Cook  County,  within  the  present  limits  of  the 
city  of  Chicago.  In  that  locality  they  continued 
to  reside  until  the  spring  of  1863,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Effingham  County,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Moccasin  Township,  where  they  still  reside. 
They  are  industrious  and  frugal  people,  and  have 
acquired  a  good  property,  amounting  to  about 
nine  hundred  acres  of  rich  farming  land. 

Mr.  Hubrich,  whose  name  heads  this  record, spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  being  reared  to  manhood 
upon  his  father's  farm.  He  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  shools  of  the  county,  and 
later  he  became  a  student  in  the  High  School  of 
Altamont.  Following  this  he  engaged  in  teaching 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


for  a  time.  Not  content  with  his  own  educational 
privileges,  in  1880  he  entered  the  Northern  Indi- 
ana Normal  at  Valparaiso,  where  he  pursued  a 
course  of  study,  after  which  he  again  resumed 
teaching.  He  followed  that  vocation  altogether 
for  ten  years. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1886,  Mr.  Hubrich 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Otillie  Rahn, 
the  wedding  ceremony  being  performed  in  Bethle- 
hem Church,  in  Mound  Township,  Eflingham 
County.  The  lady  was  born  in  that  township  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sophia  (Schuette) 
Rahn.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1860,  locating  at  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.  Two  years  later  they  came  to  ElHngham 
County  and  settled  in  Mound  Township,  where 
the  father  died  soon  afterwards.  The  mother  was 
again  married  and  is  still  living  in  Mound  Town- 
ship. Three  children  were  born  of  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hubrich,  of  whom  two  are  yet 
living,  a  son  and  daughter,  William  Julius  and 
Otillie  Augusta  Sophia.  William,  their  first-born, 
died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hubrich  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Sum- 
mit Township,  of  which  his  father  had  given  him 
thejise.  Having  been  familiar  with  that  occupa- 
tion throughout  life,  he  made  a  successful  agricul- 
turist. He  served  as  Township  Clerk  of  that 
township  for  three  years  in  succession,  and  for 
several  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic County  Central  Committee.  In  1888,  Mr. 
Hubrich  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Circuit 
Clerk,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority.  In 
the  fall  of  1892,  he  was  elected  to  his  present  posi- 
tion, that  of  Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder  of  Effing- 
ham  County,  for  a  term  of  four  years.  On  the 
first  Monday  of  the  following  December,  he  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office,  which  he  is  now  fill- 
ing. In  consequence  of  his  election  he  removed 
to  Kllingham,  where  he  now  makes  his  home. 

In  the  fall  of  1867,  Mr.  Hubrich  met  with  an 
accident  while  playing  with  a  cane  mill,  whereby 
his  left  arm  was  so  crushed  that  it  became  necessary 
to  amputate  the  member  above  the  elbow.  This 
accident,  though  a  great  misfortune,  has  not  mate- 
rially interfered  with  the  excellent  business  abil- 


ity of  our  subject.  He  is  a  good  scholar  and  pen- 
man, and  possesses  the  requisite  qualification  for 
an  efficient  officer  in  the  position  to  which  he  has 
been  chosen.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  are  highly  respected  people, 
who  are  held  in  warm  regard  throughout  the  com- 
munity. 


||  AMES  M.  BROWN,  a  well-known  farmer 
j  residing  on  section  33,  Decker  Township< 
Richland  County,  was  born  in  West  Tennes- 
see, December  15,  1826,  and  is  one  of  the 
three  sons  and  four  daughters  whose  parents  were 
John  and  Phoabe  (McCoy)  Brown.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  mother  of  Buck 
County.,  Tenn.  The  former  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  to  earn  a  livelihood  for  him- 
self and  family  followed  tire  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. In  February.  1830,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
entered  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  what  is  now  Decker  Township,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  1854.  In  that  year  he  went  West 
with  the  view  of  choosing  a  location,  and  after 
the  receipt  of  one  letter  he  was  never  again  heard 
from.  It  is  supposed  that  he  died  of  cholera. 
He  left  a  good  farm,  highly  improved  and  well 
stocked.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Biptist  Church, 
as  was  also  his  wife,  who  died  in  1874,  in  her 
eighty-fourth  year.  Their  children  were  David 
and  Lucinda,  both  deceased;  Absalom;  Joseph  II; 
James  M.;  Jemima,  widow  of  Isaac  Anderson;  and 
Rachel,  widow  of  Jacob  Shelby. 

When  a  child  of  four  summers,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Richland 
County.  He  still  lives  on  the  farm  where  he  was 
reared,  it  having  now  been  his  home  for  sixty- 
three  years.  He  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
the  county,  having  witnessed  its  growth  and  devel- 
opment from  the  days  of  its  early  infancy.  He 
still  owns  the  forty  acres  of  land  which  he  entered 
from  the  Government,  besides  an  additional  one 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


hundred  and  twenty  acres,  which  he  purchased. 
He  has  a  well-developed  farm  and  a  pleasant 
home. 

Mr.  Brown  has  been  three  times  married.  He 
wedded  Mrs.  Millie  Webster,  widow  of  Alexander 
Webster,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Oaster)  Anderson.  They  became  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  eight  sons  and  four  daughters: 
Margaret  M.,  Isaac  L.,  Annie,  Rachel,  Henry  M., 
George  A.,  Thomas,  Eva,  and  four  who  died  in 
infancy.  The  mother's  death  occurred  October 
27,  1873.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  October  10, 
1875,  to  Margaret  Graham,  daughter  of  George 
Graham,  and  their  union  was  blessed  with  one 
daughter,  Effle  Estella.  The  wife  and  mother 
passed  away  in  July,  1877.  The  lady  who  now 
bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Brown  was  formerly  Mrs. 
Sarah  M.  Dougherty,  widow  of  Andrew  J.  Dough- 
erty. They  have  one  son,  James  R. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Brown  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democracy.  He  holds  membership  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  During  his  long  residence 
here,  he  has  not  only  become  widely  known  but 
has  gained  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends,  who 
esteem  him  highly.  He  has  always  been  a  valued 
citizen,  manifesting  a  commendable  interest  in 
everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity. 


I=TI  < 


.  ATI-IAN  W.  BYRNE,  who  carries  on  agri- 
cultural  pursuits  on  section  34,  Bon  pas 
Township,  Richland  County,  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Illinois,  being  a  native  of  Edwards 
County,  where  his  birth  occurred  October  7,  1861. 
The  Byrne  family  is  of  Scotch  lineage,  and  was 
probably  founded  in  Virginia  during  Colonial 
da37s.  There  the  grandfather,  Charles  Byrne,  was 
born,  and  the  father  of  our  subject,  Uriah  Byrne, 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  the  Old 
Dominion  January  19,  1834.  He  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1840,  his  father  securing 


a  tract  of  wild  land  from  the  Government,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  good  farm.  When  a  young 
man,  Uriah  went  to  Edwards  County,  and  there 
wedded  Miranda  Copeland,  who  was  born  in  Illi- 
nois, but  spent  much  of  her  girlhood  in  Missouri. 
She  died  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  twelve 
years.  Mr.  Byrne  removed  to  Grayville,  and  is 
now  spending  the  last  years  of  his  life  with  a 
daughter  in  Wabash  County,  111. 

In  their  family  of  six  children  the  order  of  birth 
is  as  follows:  Sylvester,  who  grew  to  manhood 
and  was  married,  but  is  now  deceased;  Nathan,  of 
this  sketch;  James,  who  resides  in  Grayville, 
White  County,  111.;  Archibald,  who  is  living  in  the 
same  place;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Charles  Michaels,  of 
Wabash  County;  and  John  E.,  who  is  married  and 
is  living  in  Grayville. 

Our  subject  spent  his  youthful  days  in  Edwards 
County  and  in  Grayville  until  the  age  of  sixteen, 
when  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand,  and  was 
thus  employed  for  several  years.  Having  arrived 
at  man's  estate,  he  chose  as  a  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey  Miss  Adeline  Vallette. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Edwards  County,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  P.  Vallette,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  in  Edwards 
County,  March  28,  1883.  They  began  their,  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  rented  farm  and  there  remained 
until  1886,  when  Mr.  Byrne  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother-in-law,  William  Franklin,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty-two  acres, 
on  which  he  now  resides.  In  1892  he  also  bought 
seventy-seven  acres  adjoining,  and  both  tracts  he 
has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  His 
home  is  also  improved  with  all  modern  conven- 
iences and  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

The  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been 
blessed  with  two  daughters,  Sadie  and  Ada.  They 
have  also  given  homes  to  two  orphan  children. 
This  generous,  kindly  couple  are  friends  to  the 
poor  and  needy,  and  their  deeds  of  charity  and 
helpfulness  have  won  them  many  warm  friends. 
They  are  consistent  and  faithful  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  in  his  social  relations  Mr! 
Byrne  belongs  to  Sumner  Lodge  No.  249,  I.  O. 
0.  F.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Hon. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


405 


James  G.  Blaine,  and  he  is  an  ardent  supporter  of 
Republican  principles.  He  was  elected  and  served 
for  one  term  as  Collector  of  Bonpas  Township,  and 
has  taken  quite  an  active  interest  in  local  politics, 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  local  committee,  and 
also  as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  Mr. 
Byrne  is  public-spirited  and  progressive  and  man- 
ifests a  commendable  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  also 
ranks  among  the  leading  and  influential  farmers 
of  his  township. 


A.  KELLER,  of  Olney,  is  the  effi- 
cient Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Rich- 
land  County,  to  which  position  he  was 
elected  at  the  November  election  of  1892,  succeed- 
ing Thomas  Tippit,  who  had  served  thirteen  con- 
secutive years.  Mr.  Keller  is  a  native  of  this  State. 
He  was  born  on  the  9th  of  September,  1865,  near 
Lancaster,  Wabash  County,  where  his  grandfather 
had  located  many  years  ago,  becoming  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  that  community.  His  parents  were 
Lewis  and  Hester  (Slanker)  Keller,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Bridgeport, 
111.  Besides  our  subject,  they  had  a  daughter, 
Emma,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Robards,  a 
plasterer  and  contractor  of  Olney.  Lewis  Keller 
died  when  our  subject  was  but  a  few  months  old. 
Subsequently  Mrs.  Keller  became  the  wife  of  John 
Slichenmyer,  and  soon  afterward  the  family  re- 
moved to  Olney  Township,  settling  on  a  farm 
which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Keller's 
mother  and  her  family. 

Mr.  Keller  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  a  farm, 
receiving  a  limited  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Olney.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  left  home 
and  became  self-sustaining,  and  from  that  time  on 
got  no  pecuniary  aid  from  any  source,  except  what 
he  acquired  by  his  own  labor.  He  worked  as  a 
farm  hand  in  the  interior  part  of  the  State  for 
abuut  three  years,  and  then  went  to  Nebraska  and 
spent  about  five  years  near  Beatrice,  working  and 


attending  school.  By  industry  and  rigid  economy 
he  saved  enough  from  his  earnings  to  enable  him 
to  take  a  two -years  course  at  Doane  College,  in 
Crete,  Neb.,  and  while  there  he  established  quite  a 
reputation  for  fine  penmanship,  an  accomplishment 
that  serves  him  to  good  purpose  in  his  present  sit- 
uation. After  leaving  college  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  business  interests  and  was  for  two  years  in 
the  railroad  service  in  Denver,  Colo.  On  leaving 
that  city  he  went  to  Salt  Lake  City,  where  he  was 
for  a  time  emplo3^ed  in  a  dry-goods  house. 

In  1890  Mi1.  Keller  returned  to  Richland  County 
to  take  charge  of  and  settle  up  his  mother's  estate. 
In  December,  1891.  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
R.  B.  Witcher,  of  Olney,  and  began  the  study  of 
law,  but  before  he  completed  it  was  induced  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination  for  Circuit  Clerk.  His  well- 
known  fitness  for  the  position,  and  his  popularity 
as  a  citizen,  prevailed  against  his  strong  opponent 
and  he  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  It  is 
but  justice  to  say  that  Mr.  Keller  will  eventually 
resume  the  study  of  .law,  his  intention  being  to 
make  the  legal  profession  his  life  work. 

Mr.  Keller  is  a  young  man  of  good  habits  and 
excellent  ability,  possessing  much  natural  talent, 
and  is  acceptabty  filling  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  his  polit- 
ical views  is  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles. 


!>HE  EFFINGIIAM  REPUBLICAN, published 
in  Effingham,  111.,  is  the  successor  to  the 
Register,  which  was  established  in  tins  place 
in  1864,  and  was  run  by  Maj.  William  Haddock 
until  1872,  when  he  joined  the  Greeley  movement 
of  that  day.  The  change  was  disastrous  to  the 
Register,  which  went  down  in  that  campaign.  In 
August  of  that  year  the  Republican  was  estab- 
lished by  the  Martin  brothers,  Elgin  Martin  being 
its  editor.  The  Republican  crowded  the  Register 
out.  The  former  paper  was  conducted  and  pub- 
lished by  tffe  Martin  brothers  until  October,  1873, 


406 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


when  they  sold  out  to  Henry  C.  Painter,  a  prac- 
tical printer,  who  conducted  the  paper  until  the 
fall  of  1885,  when  it  was  purchased  by  its  present 
proprietor,  E.  B.  Gorrell,  who  has  operated  it  suc- 
cessfully since.  The  paper  is  a  five-column  quarto, 
is  well  printed  and  ably  edited,  and  is  the  only 
Republican  paper  in  the  county. 

Elkanah  B.  Gorrell,  the  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  Effingham  Republican,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Alexander,  Licking  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
8th  of  November,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Harvey 
and  Sarah  (Kirkpatrick)  Gorrell.  The  father's 
family  was  originally  from  Westmoreland  County, 
Md.,  and  later  became  residents  of  Pennsylvania, 
whence  they  removed  to  Ohio.  The  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject  owned  the  site  of  the  county 
seat  of  Knox  County,  Ohio.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  the  youngest  of  seven  sons.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Knox  County,  whence  he  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Licking  County,  and  from  there  he 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  here  in  the  autumn  of 
1865.  Locating  in  Effingham,  he  has  since  made 
his  home  in  this  city.  His  wife  died  November 
22,  1890. 

Our  subject  is  the  only  surviving  member  in  the 
famity  of  six  children.  He  came  to  Efflngham 
with  his  parents  in  1865,  when  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years,  and  acquired  the  greater  part  of  his  educa- 
tion in  this  place.  He  began  learning  the  printer's 
trade  under  John  Hoeney,  publisher  of  the  Efflng- 
ham Gazette.  In  1867,  he  resumed  school,  and 
later  in  that  year  he  went  with  Col.  J.  W.  Filler 
to  Kinmundy,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until 
1868.  In  that  year  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
completed  his  trade.  He  then  traveled  and  worked 
as  a  journeyman  in  the  South,  doing  business  in 
Memphis  and  Jackson  (Miss.),  Shrevesport  (La.), 
Little  Rock  (Ark.), and  Louisville  (Ky.),  where  he 
held  eases  for  a  time  on  the  Courier- Journal. 
Later  he  was  employed  in  the  line  of  his  trade  in 
Cincinnati  and  in  Chicago. 

In  March,  1874,  during  the  Granger  supremacy 
in  Jasper  County,  he  went  to  Newton  and  estab- 
lished the  Jasper  County  Clipper,  &  Granger  paper, 
which  he  conducted  for  about  a  year  and  a-half. 
The  Granger  movement  then  began  to  wane  and 
in  the  year  1876  he  leased  his  otlice  and  bought 


a  half-interest  in  the  Cumberland  County  Demo- 
crat. Six  months  later  he  retired  from  that  field 
in  disgust.  Returning  to  Newton,  he  changed 
the  name  of  the  Clipper  to  the  Times  and  made  it 
a  Republican  paper,  which  he  conducted  until 
1885,  when  he  removed  his  office  to  Effingham  and 
established  the  Effingham  Republican  in  place  of 
the  old  Register. 

Mr.  Gorrell  was  married  in  Newton,  November 
11,1881,  to  Miss  Alice  C.  Brown,  a  daughter  of 
D.  B.  and  Martha  J.  Brown,  and  a  native  of  New- 
ton. They  have  one  daughter,  Nellie  Burton. 

_Mr.  Gorrell  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  socially  is"  con  nected  with  Effingham 
Lodge  No.  145,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  During  nearly  his 
entire  life  he  has  been  interested  in  newspaper 
work,  and  his  long  and  valuable  experience  in  that 
line  has  well  fitted  him  to  be  the  successful  editor 
of  the  Effingham  Republican.  His  paper  is  a  bright, 
interesting  and  newsy  one,  and  Mr.  Gorrell  well 
deserves  the  patronage  which  he  receives. 


WALTER  PRUET,  one  of  Jasper  County's 
self-made  men  and  highly-respected  citi- 
zens,  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  on 
section  4,  South  Muddy  Township.  As  he  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  this  com- 
munity, we  feel  assured  that  a  record  of  his  life 
will  prove  of  interest  to  our  readers,  and  therefore 
gladly  insert  this  sketch.  His  birth  occurred  Oc- 
tober 30,  1827,  in  Kenton  County,  Ky.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Nortli  Carolina  and  of  English  de- 
scent, and  his  mother,  Cassandra  (Brooks)  Pruet, 
was  of  both  English  and  German  lineage.  Our 
subject  is  the  only  living  representative  of  their 
family  of  nine  children,  the  others  being  Mary, 
Willis.  John,  Sarah,  Adenston,  Melinda,  Charlotte 
and  Elias. 

Walter  was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth.  I'pon 
his  father's  farm  he  was  reared  to  manhood  and  in 
the  subscription  schools  he  became  familiar  with 
the  rudimentary  branches  of  knowledge,  but  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


409 


educational  privileges  were  quite  limited.  Since 
fourteen  years  of  age  lie  has  made  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  He  began  to  earn  his  livelihood  by 
working  as  a  farm  hand  for  twelve  and  a-half  cents 
per  day,  but  as  his  usefulness  increased  his  wages 
were  raised  to  $7  per  month.  He  was  thus  em- 
ployed until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
working  in  a  flour  and  saw  mill,  where  the  next 
four  years  of  his  life  were  passed.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  made  a  location  in  Rome, 
Ind..  where  he  resided  for  a  year,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Kentucky.  In  his  native  State  he  then 
remained  until  the  autumn  of  1853. 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1848,  Mr.  Pruet  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Miss  Missouri  Frazier,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children:  William 
O.  B.  (deceased),  Ellen  F.,  Sarah  C.,  Robert  G., 
Walter,  James  M.,and  Sherman  and  Jackie  both 
deceased.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1883. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a 
most  estimable  lady.  On  the  25th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1884,  Mr.  Pruet  married  Laura  E.  Ray,  and 
two  children  grace  this  union,  Nye  and  Armilda. 

The  autumn  of  1853  witnessed  the  arrival  of 
Mr.  Pruet  and  his  family  in  Jasper  County.  They 
had  journeyed  Westward  by  team  and  now  lo- 
cated in  South  Muddy  Township,  where  he  entered 
eighty-nine  acres  of  land  from  the  Government  on 
section  4.  His  claim  is  mostly  covered  with  tim- 
ber. After  building  a  log  cabin,  16x18  feet,  he 
began  clearing  his  land,  then  plowed  and  planted 
it,  and  in  course  of  time  rich  harvests  rewarded 
his  efforts.  He  and  his  family  bore  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  frontier  life  and  in  those 
early  days  lived  in  true  pioneer  style.  As  time 
passed,  however,  the  once  raw  tract  was  trans- 
formed into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  and  Mr.  Pruet 
is  now  the  owner  of  a  good  farm,  which  yields  to 
him  a  golden  tribute. 

Our  subject  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alli- 
ance, lie  lias  served  as  Supervisor  of  South 
Muddy  Township  for  eleven  years  and  was  Col- 
lector for  one  year,  discharging  his  duties  with 
a  promptness  and  fidelity  that  won  him  the 
commendation  of  all  concerned.  He  manifested 
his  loyalty  to  the  Government  during  the  late 
war  by  enlisting  November  20,  1861,  in  Company 

20 


F,  Forty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered 
in  at  Camp  Butler.  Ft.  Donelson  was  the  firstand 
last  engagement  in  which  he  participated,  for  he 
was  taken  sick  immediately  after  the  battle  and 
was  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  Mr. 
Pruet  holds  membership  with  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  is  a  faithful  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
since  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen  and  does  all  in  his  power 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  community. 
He  helped  to  organize  his  township  into  school 
districts  and  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  development  of  Jasper  County  during  his 
long  residence  of  forty  years  within  its  borders. 
He  is  an  honored  pioneer  and  well  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume. 


EV.  FATHER  HERMANN   JUNGMANN, 

rector  of  St.  Anthony's  Roman  Catholic 
Church  of  Elfingham,  has  occupied  that 
position  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years,  or 
since  1877.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  having 
been  born  in  the  town  of  Ochtrup,  Westphalia,  in 
the  diocese  of  Munster.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Gymnasium  of  Munster,  which  he  left  in  his  twen- 
ty-second year  to  become  a  student  in  the  School 
of  Philosophy  of  Roulers,  Belgium,  where  he  re- 
mained for  one  year,  lie  then  entered  the  Amer- 
ican college  at  Lorraine,  Belgium,  where  he  pur- 
sued a  three-years  theological  course.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  was  ordained,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  priesthood  in  December.  1871,  in 
Malines,  Belgium.  In  September,  1872,  he  came 
to  America,  and  in  the  following  October  was  ap- 
pointed rector  of  St.  Anthony's  Church,  in  Mur- 
physboro,  111.,  where  he  served  until  March,  1877. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  appointed 
to  his  present  charge,  St.  Anthony's  Church  of 
Ettingham. 

Father  Jungmann  is  a  man  of  superior  ability 
and  culture,  and  is  a  most  systematic  and  indefat- 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


igable  worker.  The  church,  the  school,  and  the 
hospital  connected  with  it,  and  his  people  enjoy 
the  benefit  of  his  faithful  and  arduous  labors. 
Everything  under  his  care  is  ably  directed,  and  the 
congregation  has  reason  for  congratulation  in  hav- 
ing enjoyed  for  so  many  years  the  faithful  and 
efficient  services  of  so  worthy  and  conscientious  a 
leader. 


^ILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  foreman  of  the  round- 
house in  Effingham  of  the  Vandalia  Rail- 
road, was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio, 
September  14,  1853.  He  is  the  son  of  Lewis  Shel- 
don and  Harriet  (Said)  Smith,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  Buckeye  State.  Our  subject  spent 
the  first  eight  years  of  his  life  in  Ohio,  and  then 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Illi- 
nois. The  family  located  on  a  farm  near  Effing- 
ham,  and  William  H.  was  there  reared  to  man- 
hood, while  in  the  public  schools  he  acquired  his 
education.  His  parents  continued  to  reside  in 
this  county  until  1881,  when  they  moved  to  Pu- 
eblo, Colo.,  where  they  now  reside.  Our  subject 
has  two  brothers  and  a  sister  now  living.  One 
brother,  Dudley  L.  Smith,  is  now  a  resident  of 
Fairhaven,  Wash.,  and  the  other.  Horatio  W. 
Smith,  is  a  locomotive  engineer,  employed  on  the 
Denver  &  Rio  Grande  Railroad. 

William  H.  Smith  remained  upon  the  farm  and 
aided  in  its  cultivation  until  the  16th  of  July, 
1874,  when,  having  determined  to  engage  in  other 
pursuits,  he  began  work  in  the  shops  of  the  Van- 
dalia Railroad  Company  at  Effingham,  where  he 
learned  the  machinist's  trade.  He  has  since  been 
an  employe  of  that  company,  and  for  the  past 
thirteen  years  he  has  held  the  position  of  foreman 
of  the  roundhouse  and  of  locomotive  repairs. 
The  Effingham  roundhouse  is  headquarters  for  lo- 
comotives of  this  line,  and  is  fitted  up  with  room 
for  sixteen  engines.  Tbo  machine  shops,  boiler 


and  blacksmith  shops  are  complete  in  their  ap- 
pointments and  employ  a  large  force  of  mechanics. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Smith  oc- 
curred on  the  1st  of  January,  1882,  when  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  Kervin,  the 
wedding  ceremony  being  performed  in  Effingham. 
Five  children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  three 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Harry,  Sheldon,  Lillie, 
Emmett  and  Ruth.  The  family  circle  yet  remains 
unbroken. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Democrat,  having 
voted  with  that  party  for  some  time.  He  is  a 
member  of  Effingham  Lodge  No.  149,  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M., 
and  of  the  lodge  of  Knights  of  Honor,  with 
which  order  he  has  been  connected  for  fourteen 
years.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  Mr.  Smith 
has  ever  been  found  capable  and  faithful,  and  has 
held  his  present  position  for  twelve  years,  while 
for  eighteen  years  without  interruption  he  has  been 
an  employe  of  the  Vandalia  Railroad  Company. 


^ILLIAM  H.  McMURTRY  is  a  farmer  of 
Noble  Township,  Richland  County,  resid- 
ing on  section  31.  He  owns  one  hundred 
and  sixty-four  acres  of  rich  land,  and  his  farm  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  It  is 
improved  with  a  good  residence  and  other  build- 
ings, has  a  fine  orchard  of  forty  acres  and  the  well- 
tilled  fields  and  neat  appearance  of  the  place  in- 
dicate the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 

A  native  of  Indiana,  our  subject  was  born  in 
Warwick  County,  December  22,  1833.  His  father," 
James  Union  McMurtry,  was  the  first  boy  born  in 
Union  County,  Ky.,  and  thus  obtained  his  name. 
The  date  of  his  birth  was  1815.  The  grandfather, 
James  McMurtry,  was  a  Kentucky  farmer  and  be- 
came a  pioneer  of  Richland  County,  111.,  where  his 
last  days  were  passed.  The  father  of  our  subject 
went  with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  and  married 
Elizabeth  C.  Angel,  who  was  born  in  Gallipolis, 
Ohio,  and  with  her  parents  also  went  to  the  Hoo- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


411 


sier  State.  Four  children  were  born  in  Indiana, 
and  in  1849  Mr.  McMurtry  came  with  his  family 
b}'  team  to  Ricliland  County,  locating  on  the  farm 
winch  is  now  the  home  of  his  son  William.  He 
secured  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
purchasing  most  of  it  from  the  Government.  A 
log  cabin  was  built  and  in  true  pioneer  style  they 
began  life.  In  1867,  Mr.  McMurtry  removed  to 
Noble,  where  his  death  occurred  October  8,  1892, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  wife  passed 
away  on  the  13th  of  February  previous  and  they 
were  laid  side  by  side  in  Noble  Cemetery.  They 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Mc- 
Murtry was  a  Whig  in  politics  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he  then 
became  identified.  He  was  a  prominent  early  set- 
tler and  aided  greatly  in  the  upbuilding  and  de- 
velopment of  his  adopted  county.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  he  built  a  tlatboat  and  loaded  it  with  corn 
on  the  Big  Muddy  River,  and  ran  it  down  the 
Mississippi  River  to  market, and  that  was  the  only 
boat  ever  run  out  of  the  Muddy  River. 

William  H.  McMurtry  is  the  eldest  of  the  fajnil}'; 
Mary  died  in  1867;  Lewis  is  a  merchant  of  Noble; 
John  follows  farming  in  Noble  Township;  Alfred 
died  in  childhood;  Lucy  is  living  in  Texas;  and 
Ida  is  the  wife  of  William  Shaffer,  of  Texas. 

Our  subject  was  only  six  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Illinois.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the 
common  schools,  where  he  acquired  a  fair  educa- 
tion. On  the  14th  of  May,  1864,  before  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  he  enlisted  at  Olney,  in 
Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  under  Capt.  James  St.  Clairand  Col. 
Fred  Johns.  The  company  assembled  and  drilled 
at  Centralia,  and  then  went  to  Columbus,  Ky., 
where  the  troops  did  garrison  duty.  Later  they 
were  ordered  to  Chicago,  where  our  subject  was 
taken  sick.  He  was  then  taken  home  and  received 
his  discharge  November  8,  1864. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  Noble  in 
1873  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  McMurtry  and 
Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  Hiram  and  Louisa  (Mont- 
gomery) Green,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1865, 
from  Gibson  County,  Ind.,  where  Mrs.  McMurtry 
was  born.  Her  father  was  born  in  Fleming 
County,  Ky.,  April  6,  1809,  and  removed  to  Indi- 


ana in  1825.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were 
born  two  daughters:  Ruby,  wife  of  John  Nichols, 
a  grain-buyer  of  Noble;  and  Elizabeth,  who  is 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  public  schools  of  Rich- 
land  County. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  McMurtry  is  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Grand  Army  Post  of  Noble.  He  has  lived  upon 
his  present  farm  since  1873,  and  has  made  his 
home  in  the  county  since  six  years  of  age.  He  has 
therefore  been  an  ej-e-witness  of  much  of  its 
growth  and  progress,  and  is  numbered  among  its 
earl}'  settlers.  He  is  well  known  and  is  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  with  whom  business  or  social 
relations  have  brought  him  in  contact. 


1|j  AMES  COLVIN,  who  owns  and  operates 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  Clare- 
mont  Township,  Richland  County,  was  born 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1841,  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  and  conies  of  an  old  family  ol  Ger- 
man origin,  which  was  founded  in  America  by  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  Keystone  State.  The 
grandfather,  James  Colvin,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  an  early  day  emigrated  Westward  to 
Highland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  reared  his  fam- 
ily. Peter  Colvin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
there  born  and  reared,  and  followed  farming  until 
1854,  when  he  joined  a  colony  consisting  of  a 
number  of  families  who  came  with  teams  to  Illi- 
nois, four  of  the  families  locating  in  Richland 
County.  This  was  in  October,  1854.  He  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  our  subject  now  resides, 
comprising  two  hundred  and  seventy-eight  acres 
of  land,  and  made  many  excellent  improvements 
upon  the  place,  transforming  it  into  one  of  the 
best  farms  of  the  locality.  His  death  occurred 
September  16,  1833,  and  his  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Abigail  Davidson,  and  was  a  na- 
tive of  Highland  County,  Ohio,  died  in  April, 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


1877.  The  children  of  this  worthy  couple  are  as 
follows:  Mary  E.,  deceased,  wife  of  Thomas  Leaf; 
John  Perry,  who  died  in  1858;  Catherine  Ann, 
deceased;  Nancy  D.,  wife  of  Peter  Van  Meter; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Pittzer,  of  South  Bend, 
Ind.;  William  E.,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work;  Amanda  V.,  wife  of  O.  T.  Colvin, 
of  Nebraska;  and  Albert  Henry,  who  died  April  8, 
1892,  leaving  a  wife  and  four  children. 

The  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  James  Colvin 
spent  iu  the  county  of  his  birth,  and  then  caine 
with  the  family  to  Richland  County.  He  was 
reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  the  frontier  and 
inured  to  the  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer 
life.  After  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  he 
left  home  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country,  en- 
listing January  4,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company 
B,  Thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry.  He  served  for 
three  years,  and  was  honorably  discharged  January 
20.  1865,  in  Little  Rock,  Ark.  He  participated  in 
all  the  engagements  of  the  regiment,  including 
the  battles  of  Fredericktown  and  Cotton  Platt, 
the  raid  with  Curtis  to  Helena,  Ark.,  and  the  bat- 
tles of  Brownsville  and  Jonesboro,  the  capture  of 
Little  Rock  (September  10,  1863),  the  battle  of 
Pine  Bluffs,  the  Red  River  campaign,  and  many 
others.  He  served  on  detached  duty  for  a  year 
and  a-half  for  the  Medical  Director  of  the  Army 
of  the  West. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Colvin  re- 
turned home  and  remained  on  the  farm  until  1867, 
when  lie  opened  a  Restaurant  irH^lney;  continuing 
in  that  business  for  one  year,  he  then  sold  out. 
He  was  married  in  Olney  in  April.  1869,  to  Miss 
Charlotte,  daughter  of  William  Wallace,  and  im- 
mediately after  rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated 
for  a  year.  He  then  returned  to  Olney  and  en- 
gaged in  stock-dealing.  While  there  his  wife  died, 
August  8,  1871,  leaving  one  child,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 5  of  the  same  year.  Subsequently,  Mr. 
Colvin  worked  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine 
Company  in  Olney,  afterward  in  Newton,  and  also 
in  Mt.  Carmel. 

In  1873  Mr.  Colvin  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Elizabeth  Wilson,  in  Newton,  and  re- 
moved to  Mt.  Carmel,  but  after  a  few  months  re- 
turned to  Richland  County,  and  located  on  a  farm, 


The  following  summer  his  wife  was  taken  sick  and 
died  June  16,  1874.  He  was  again  married,  June 
14,  1876,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Frances 
V.  Adams,  a  native  of  Crawford  County,  111.,  and 
a  daughter  of  B.  W.  Adams.  The}'  have  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Ola  May,  Arthur 
J.,  Luther  N.,  Laura  and  Orlando. 

After  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  Mr.  Colvin 
sold  his  crop  and  removed  to  Pike  County,  111., 
and  engaged  in  buying  stock.  Later  he  rented 
land,  which  he  operated  until  1883,  when  he  bought 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  has  since  made  it 
his  place  of  residence.  He  is  now  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  political  belief 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  supports  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  that  party.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in 
him  a  warm  friend,  and  for  three  years  he  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  Mr.  Col- 
vin is  a  worthy  representative  of  a  pioneer  family, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and  in- 
fluential citizens  of  The  community. 


ICHAEL  EVER,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  19,  German  Township, 
is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Richland 
County.  His  residence,  covering  a  period 
of  fifty-four  years,  dates  from  1 839.  He  has  there- 
fore witnessed  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
county  since  the  days  of  its  early  infancy.  Helms 
seen  it  a  wild  and  unbroken  tract  of  land,  with 
only  here  and  there  a  settlement,  and  has  watched 
its  transformation  to  one  of  the  leading  counties 
in  southern  Illinois,  with  churches,  schools  and 
homes  thickly  dotting  the  landscape,  with  here  and 
there  a  village  or  thriving  town,  and  all  the  inno- 
vations and  improvements  known  to  the  civilized 
world.  It  is  certainly  an  honor  to  have  seen  this 
development,  but  to  have  aided  in  the  work  of 
progress  and  upbuilding,  as  Mr.  Ej'er  has  done,  is 
something  of  which  one  might  well  be  proud. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  Feb- 
ruary 16.  1827.     Ten  years  later,  his  father,  Jacob 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


413 


Eyer,  emigrated  with  his  family  from  the  Old 
Country  to  the  United  States,  and  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  a 
farm.  Two  years  later  he  sold,  and  again  traveling 
Westward,  cast  his  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of  Rich- 
land  County.  lie  entered  from  the  Government 
thiee  forty -acre  tracts  of  land,  and  in  a  primitive 
log  cabin  began  life  in  true  pioneer  style.  With 
the  assistance  of  his  sons,  he  cleared  the  land, 
plowed  and  planted  it,  and  in  course  of  time  gath- 
ered abundant  harvests  as  the  reward  of  his  labors. 
He  built  a  good  two-story  log  house  and  in  that 
home  spent  his  last  days,  passing  away  in  1850,  at 
the  age  of  fifty  years.  His  wife  long  survived 
him,  and  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  ninety.  They 
were  highly  respected  people  and  in  their  deaths 
the  community  lost  two  of  its  best  citizens. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  in 
the  Fatherland  and  then  made  the  voyage  across  the 
briny  deep.  When  a  lad  of  thirteen,  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  was  reared  upon  the  old  home  farm, 
being  early  inured  to  the  arduous  labors  of  de- 
veloping wild  land.  He  gave  his  parents  the  ben- 
efit of  his  services  until  after  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  He  first  left  this  locality  in  1852,  with 
three  others  starting  for  California.  They  left 
home  in  April  and  arrived  at  their  destination  the 
following  August.  Mr.  Eyerat  once  made  his  way 
to  the  gold  mines.  He  spent  eight  years  on  the 
Pacific  Slope  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period 
returned  home,  in  November,  1860.  Soon  after  he 
purchased  the  old  homestead  and  has  since  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  to  farming.  He  has  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  his  land  until  he  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  forty  acres,  comprising  a 
valuable  and  highly  improved  farm. 

On  the  Istof  January,  1863,  in  Richland  County, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Ever  and  Miss 
Arena,  daughter  of  Joshua  Cotterell,  of  Kentucky. 
Her  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  community. 
Two  children  grace  this  union,  namely:  George 
Washington,  and  Franklin  Hosea.  Both  are  under 
the  parental  roof  and  aid  in  the  labors  of  the  farm. 
They  also  lost  three  children,  Margaret,  Jacob  and 
Mary,  all  dying  in  early  childhood. 

Mr.  Eyer  was  called  upon  to  serve  as  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways  for  six  years,  his  faithful  and 


prompt  discharge  of  duty  leading  to  his  frequent 
re-election.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  the  long  period  of  twenty  years  and  has 
done  much  toward  advancing  the  standard  of  the 
schools,  which  find  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  ex- 
ercises his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  been  the  architect 
of  his  own  fortune  and  has  builded  wisely  and 
well,  and  while  gaining  a  competency  he  has  also 
won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  busi- 
ness or  social  relations  have  brought  him  in  con- 
tact. .  ." 


OHN  LYTOR  BYERS,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  progressive  farmers  of  Rich- 
land  County,  residing  on  section  6,  Bonpas 
Township,  located  here  in  1854.  In  1852, 
he  entered  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  and  now  has  in  his  possession 
the  deed  to  the  same,  signed  by  President  Frank- 
lin Pierce.  This  tract  of  land  has  never  been  sold, 
mortgaged  or  transferred  in  any  way  since  that 
time.  The  Byers  farm  now  comprises  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-seven  acres  of  valuable  land, 
about  three  hundred  of  which  are  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  and  yield  to  the  owner  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  he  bestows 
upon  them.  There  are  also  many  good  buildings 
and  other  improvements. 

Mr.  Byers  was  born  in  Rushville,  Ind.,  January 
8,  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Mary  (Gwinup) 
B3'ers.  The  father  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky., 
in  1798,  and  the  latter  in  Redstone,  Pa.,  March 
17,  1803.  Her  father,  George  Gwinup,  a  Welsh- 
man by  descent,  served  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  an  Ensign.  He  enlisted  in  the  New 
Jersey  Blues,  and  took  part  in  the  famous  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  with  Gen.  Washington 
at  the  crossing  of  the  Delaware,  the  battle  of  Cow- 
pens,  and  many  other  engagements.  Being  a  tailor 
by  trade,  he  was  able  to  provide  himself  with 
somewhat  better  clothing  than  most  of  the  sol- 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


dicrs,  or  at  least  to  keep  them  in  better  repair. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Valley  Forge.  His 
death  occurred  in  Carthage,  Ohio,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven  years. 

Philip  Byers,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  re- 
ceived a  bullet  wound  during  the  Revolution, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  died,  a  short  time 
previous  to  the  birth  of  his  son  Philip,  the  father 
of  our  subject.  The  latter  settled  in  Rush  County, 
Ind.,  in  December,  1826,  becoming  one  of  its 
pioneers.  His  death  occurred  near  Wheatland, 
Knox  County,  Ind.,  September  7,  1867,  and  his 
wife  died  September  15,  1851.  She  was  for  many 
years  a  devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

When  John  L.  Byers  was  a  lad  of  four  summers, 
the  family  removed  to  Fayette  County,  Ind.,  and 
three  years  later  went  to  Colerain,  Ohio.  After  a 
year  they  went  to  Carthage,  Ohio,  where  he  at- 
tended school  for  about  two  months  each  winter 
until  seventeen  years  of  age.  During  the  remain- 
der of  the  time  he  followed  farming,  for  he  began 
plowing  when  quite  young.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, lie  accompanied  the  family  to  Knox  County, 
Ind.,  where,  on  attaining  his  majority,  he  began 
life  for  himself,  assisted  only  by  the  good  advice 
and  kind  wishes  of  his  father.  He  still  made  his 
home  witli  his  parents,  but  carried  on  farming  for 
himself.  In  1852,  he  first  came  to  Richland  Coun- 
ty, and  being  favorably  impressed  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  country,  and  the  healthfulness  of 
the  climate,  on  his  return  he  bought  a  land  war- 
rant to  a  quarter-section  given  by  the  United 
States  Government  to  a  veteran  of  the  Black  Hawk 
War.  He  paid  $150  for  the  same  and  entered  the 
homestead  as  above  stated.  In  1854  he  built  a 
log  cabin,  16x18  feet,  and  took  possession  of  it. 
The  lumber  used  for  the  doors,  sash  and  floor  lie 
brought  by  team  from  Indiana.  Soon  after  he 
brought  his  bride  hither,  and  the  young  couple 
began  life  in  true  pioneer  style.  If  some  of  the 
modern  conveniences  were  lacking,  they  possessed 
courage  and  hope  for  the  future. 

Mr.  Byers'  present  farm  was  then  an  unbroken 
forest,  except  that  some  of  the  best  timber  had 
been  appropriated  by  settlers  on  the  neighboring 
prairie.  He  cleared  and  fenced  twenty  acres  the 


first  season,  planting  fifteen  with  corn.  Deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  animals  were  numerous, 
and  there  were  many  hardships  and  trials  inci- 
dent to  frontier  life  to  be  endured.  By  untiring 
industry  and  perseverance,  Mr.  Byers  transformed 
his  unimproved  land  into  one  of  the  most  excel- 
lent farms  in  the  count}'.  In  December,  1880,  his 
fine  farm  house  and  a  part  of  its  contents  were 
destroyed  by  fire.  Only  a  portion  of  it  was 
covered  by  insurance.  In  1881,  he  built  another 
commodious  residence,  one  of  the  most  comfort- 
able and  attractive  farmhouses  in  the  county.  It 
was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  22d  of  May,  1893, 
and  he  is  preparing  to  re-build.  He  also  has  a 
large  barn,  40x60  feet,  with  an  addition  24x36 
feet,  a  tool  house,  granary  and  other  outbuild- 
ings. Ten  acres  of  his  land  have  been  planted  with 
fruit  trees,  and  he  now  has  a  good  orchard.  In 
connection  with  general  farming  he  feeds  consid- 
erable stock  for  market,  and  also  breeds  some  fine 
horses. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  Byers  chose  Miss  Robenia,  daughter  of  John 
T.  Boyd,  of  Knox  County,  Ind.,  who  settled  there 
in  1833.  He  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and 
was  of  Irish  descent.  He  married  Christina  Arne, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia,  of  German  parentage, 
and  died  February  18,  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  y ears.  Mr.  Boyd's  death  occurred  in  1877. 
Mrs.  Byers  wasb'orn  in  Wythe  County,  Va.,  March 
8,  1829,  and  was  one  of  seventeen  children,  four- 
teen of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Mr.  and  Mi's. 
Byers  have  six  children:  Mary  M.,  wife  of  1).  S. 
Curry,  of  Bonpas  Township;  Harriet  E.,  wife  of 
J.  A.  Clodfelter,  of  the  same  township;  John  B.,  i 
dealer  in  livestock;  Clara  A.,  wife  of  E.  T.  Boley, 
of  Bonpas  Township;  Mattie  L.,  wife  of  G.  Berry, 
of  the  same  township;  and  Luther  P.,  who  cor 
pletes  the  family. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  with  which  Mrs.  Byers  has  been 
connected  since  twelve  years  of  age,  and  take  ai 
active  interest  in  its  upbuilding.  Mr.  Byers  ha 
led  a  busy  life,  but  has  found  time  to  devote  tc 
public  affairs.  He  served  his  fellow- townsmen 
for  three  years  as  Supervisor  of  Bonpas  Township, 
was  Highway  Commissioner  several  years,  and  for 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


sixteen  years  filled  the  ottice  of  Justice  of  the 
I'eace.  In  polities,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Mr.  Byers  is  truly  a  self-made  man, 
and  by  his  own  well-directed  efforts  and  good 
management  and  the  able  assistance  of  his  estima- 
ble wife,  he  has  acquired  a  handsome  competence 
and  is  numbered  among  the  prosperous  citizens 
of  Richland  County.  This  worthy  couple  are 
numbered  among  the  useful  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  the  community. 


fOHN  H.  LARRABEE,  of  Newton  is  a  repre- 
sentative business  man  and  the  leading  fur- 


I 

^=JI  niture  dealer  and  undertaker  of  Jasper 
\{j-j(/  County.  Besides  carrying  a  very  complete 
stock  of  furniture  and  undertakers'  goods,  Mr. 
Larrabee  also  deals  in  carpets,  pianos,  organs  and 
sewing-machines.  He  established  himself  in  trade 
in  Newton  in  1883,  and  began  business  on  rather 
a  small  scale,  but  as  time  passed  it  increased  in 
importance  from  year  to  year  and  he  now  has  a 
liberal  patronage  and  is  numbered  among  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  Newton. 

Mr.  Larrabee  is  still  a  young  man  and  his  suc- 
cess has  indeed  been  excellent  for  one  of  his  years. 
He  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Crawford  County,  in 
1860.  His  father,  Dr.  James  Larrabee,  is  a  well- 
known  physician,  now  residing  in  Wheeler,  Jasper 
County.  He  was  born  in  Licking  Count}-,  Ohio, 
and  after  attaining  to  man's  estate  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Henry,  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  George  Henry,  who  was 
among  the  earlier  settlers  of  Crawford  County,  111. 
Mrs.  Larrabee  died  in  August,  1863,  since  which 
time  the  Doctor  has  been  twice  married.  As  be- 
fore stated,  he  is  a  prominent  physician  and  enjoys 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice  in  the  community 
where  he  makes  his  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  living 
child  born  of  the  first  marriage  of  Dr.  Larrabee. 
When  John  II.  was  only  about  ten  years  of  age,  his 


father  removed  to  EHingham  County,  I1L  Thence 
the  family  went  to  Elliottstown,  in  the  same  county, 
subsequently  to  Latona,  and  later  to  Wheeler. 
Our  subject  accompanied  his  father  on  his  various 
removals  and  remained  at  home  until  1880,  when 
he  came  to  Newton.  For  a  number  of  years  pre- 
vious to  engaging  in  his  present  business,  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  J.  W.  Honey, 
and  thus  gained  an  excellent  experience  as  a  busi- 
ness man,  so  that  when  he  started  out  for  himself 
he  had  a  good  knowledge  of  how  to  conduct  his 
enterprise. 

The  lady  who  now  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Lar- 
rabee was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Margaret  Wal- 
lace. By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
has  been  born  a  daughter,  Anna.  The  young 
couple  are  well  known  in  this  community  and  are 
held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who  know  them.  Their 
home  is  always  open  for  the  reception  of  their 
friends  and  the  circle  which  enjoys  their  hospi- 
tality is  large.  Mr.  Larrabee  is  numbered  among 
the  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizens  of  this 
community.  He  manifests  a  commendable  interest 
in  all  that  pertains  to  its  welfare  and  ever  bears 
his  part  in  its  upbuilding  and  advancement. 


eHARLES  E.  DAI  LEY,  of  Olney,  although 
one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  Bar  of 
Richland  County,  has  already  become  well 
known  in  the  profession.     He  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar  in  Mt.  Vernon  in  1889,  and  although  the  j'ears 
of  his  practice  are  few,  he  has  already  won  an  en- 
viable  reputation.     He    is  now   associated   in  the 
prosecution  of  his  profession   with    II.  G.  Morris, 
the  present  State's  Attorney  of  Richland  County, 
the  firm  being  known  as  Dailey  &  Morris. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Richland 
County  and  was  born  in  the  township  of  Olney  on 
the  9th  of  October,  1865.  He  belongs  to  an  early 
and  well-known  family  of  this  locality.  His  father, 
James  M.  Dailey,  was  formerly  a  resident  of  the 
State  of  Indiana.  On  his  removal  to  Illinois  he 


416 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


located  upon  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Olney. 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  is  a  well-known 
citizen  and  highly  respected  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintance.  He  is  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  lias  been  a 
witness  of  much  of  the  growth  and  development 
of  this  locality. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  boyhood 
days  on  the  homestead  farm  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Olney.  He  did  not  care  to 
follow  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared, 
but  desired  to  enter  the  legal  profession,  and  in 
consequence  began  the  study  of  law  in  1886,  un- 
der the  direction  of  Thomas  R.  Cobb,  a  prominent 
lawyer  of  Viucennes,  Ind.,  now  deceased.  He 
continued  with  Mr.  Cobb  until  his  admission  to  the 
Bar,  when  he  located  in  Olney  and  embarked  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  which  lie  continued 
alone  until  May,  1891,  when  the  present  partner- 
ship with  H.  G.  Morris  was  formed. 

Mr.  Dailey  is  the  younger  of  two  sons  born  of 
the  second  marriage  of  his  father.  His  brother, 
Dr.  James  H.  Dailey,  is  a  practicing  physician  of 
Birds,  Lawrence  County,  III.  Our  subject  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  aitiliations.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  enterprise  and  energy,  possessed  of 
good  business  ability,  and  will  no  doubt  steadily 
work  his  way  upward. 


OHN  C.  GROVES,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  section  8,  Denver 
Township,  Richland  County^  is  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Brown  County,  September  12, 1836.  His 
grandfather  served  as  a  drummer  in  the  War  of 
1812,  and  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
Virginia.  Richard  Groves,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Fauquier  County,  that  State,  in 
1808,  and  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  upon  a 
farm.  He  there  married  Susanna  Evans,  who  was 
a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and  was  of  Irish 


descent,  her  father  having  emigrated  to  this  coun- 
try from  the  Emerald  Isle.  In  1836  Mr.  Groves 
started  with  his  family  for  Ohio,  but  while  in 
Pennsylvania  his  team  ran  away  and  one  of  his 
legs  was  broken.  This  necessited  his  remaining  in 
the  Keystone  State  for  a  year,  and  during  that 
time  John  was  born. 

The  family  located  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and 
purchased  a  tract  of  timberland,  from  which  an 
excellent  farm  was  developed.  For  fourteen  years 
during  the  winter  season,  the  father  worked  a  coal 
mine  on  his  own  place.  In  1857  he  went  to  Mercer 
Count3',  Mo.,  where  lie  and  his  wife  died  within  a 
few  weeks  of  each  other.  They  were  faithful 
workers  in  and  earnest  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Groves  was 
a  life-long  Democrat.  Mary  Jane,  their  eldest 
child,  is  the  wife  of  William  Bridge,  of  Missouri; 
John  C.  is  the  next  younger;  James  M.,  who  served 
throughout  the  late  war,  is  living  in  Schuyler 
County,  111.;  Leah  Catherine  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Booth,  of  Missouri;  and  Daniel  H.,  who  was  also 
one  of  the  boys  in  blue,  follows  farming  in  Mis- 
souri. 

In  a  log  cabin  of  Ohio,  upon  a  farm  largely 
covered  with  stumps  and  rocks,  our  subject  re- 
mained until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  at- 
tended school  only  about  three  months  in  the  year 
and  during  the  remainder  of  the  time  performed 
the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  developing  wild 
land.  In  the  fall  of  1857,  he  went  by  team  to 
Missouri,  where  he  remained  four  years.  He  came  to 
Illinois  during  the  exciting  times  which  attended 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1861  bought  land,  constituting  a  part  of  his  pres- 
ent farm.  He  purchased  forty  acres,  upon  which 
he  built  a  log  house  and  barn.  His  cash  capital 
consisted  of  $30,  and  he  had  a  team,  three  colts,  a 
wagon  and  his  household  effects.  He  has  been  a 
hard  worker  and  as  the  result  of  his  labors  his 
financial  resources  were  increased  and  he  now  owns 
ninety  acres  of  good  land,  highly  cultivated  and 
well  improved,  upon  which  he  carries  on  general 
farming. 

Mr.  Groves  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  but 
was  called  upon  to  serve  as  Assessor  and  faithfully 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  position.  He  is 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


member  of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Associa- 
tion, and  for  thirty-five  years  has  held  member- 
ship with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan 
and  was  then  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
until  1892,  when  he  supported  'Weaver. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Groves 
was  formerly  Miss  Catherine  Gray,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Jane  (Adams)  Gray.  Her  parents  re- 
moved from  Ohio  to  Iowa,  later  to  Missouri,  and 
their  last  days  were  spent  in  this  county.  The 
father,  born  July  6,  1799,  died  November  18, 
1872,  and  the  mother,  born  February  21,  1799, 
died  September  11,  1863.  Mrs.  Groves  is  a  native 
of  the  Buckeye  State.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  three  children,  but  the  eld- 
est became  the  wife  of  James  Crosby  and  died 
leaving  three  children;  Ara  Adna  and  Ora  Ole, 
twins,  are  at  home.  During  his  thirty-two  years' 
residence  in  the  county,  Mr.  Groves  has  proved 
himself  a  valued  citizen,  and  has  gained  the  es- 
teem of  all  with  whom  business  or  social  relations 
have  brought  him  in  contact. 


ILTON  BROOKS,  a  well-known  agricul- 
turist residing  on  section  6,  Crooked  Creek 
Township,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
honored  pioneer  families  of  Jasper  County. 
Among  those  who  sought  a  home  in  this  locality 
in  an  early  day  was  Eliphaz  Brooks,  father  of  our 
subject,  who  located  in  this  county  in  1840  and 
entered  land  from  the  Government.  From  that 
unbroken  tract  he  developed  the  farm  on  which 
Milton  now  resides.  Eliphaz  Brooks  was  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  when  a  child  he  went  with  his  father, 
John  Brooks,  to  Indiana,  the  family  locating  in 
Rush  County,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness 
hewed  out  a  farm,  upon  which  the  father  of  our 
subject  was  reared  to  manhood.  When  a  young 
man  he  came  to  Jasper  Count}',  111.  This  was  in 
1840,  as  before  stated.  He  made  a  claim  in  Crooked 
Creek  Township,  and  after  opening  up  a  farm  re- 


turned to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  for  a  wife.  He 
married  Rachel  Earnest,  who  was  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee, but  spent  her  girlhood  days  in  the  Hoosier 
State.  The  wife  died  in  this  county,  after  which 
Mr.  Brooks  was  again  married.  Man}'  yeais  he 
spent  upon  his  farm  and  then  removed  to  Newton, 
where  he  lived  a  retired  life  until  called  to  his 
final  rest,  December  3,  1886. 

.  In  the  Brooks  family  were  two  sons  and  three 
daughters  who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 
AH  are  now  married,  have  become  heads  of  fam- 
ilies and  reside  in  Jasper  County.  Milton,  the 
eldest  child,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  No- 
vember 16,  1843,  and  was  reared  amid  the  wild 
scenes  of  frontier  life.  No  event  of  special  im- 
portance occurred  during  his  boyhood,  which  was 
quietly  passed  on  his  father's  farm.  When  he  had 
attained  toman's  estate  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Josephine  Nelson,  a  native  of 
Kentucky  aud  a  daughter  of  W.  K.  Nelson.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  February  27,  1868,  and  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children,  five  yet  living. 
Rachel  Olive  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Dougherty, 
of  Jasper  County;  Mary  Rosella  became  the  wife 
of  A.  J.  Rutherman  and  died  June  15,  1892,  leav- 
ing one  child;  William  E.,  Henry  S.,  Lizzie  and 
Mamie  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  in  North  Muddy  Township,  Jasper 
County,  where  they  spent  a  number  of  yours. 
They  then  removed  to  Kansas,  but  after  a  year 
spent  in  farming  in  Montgomery  County,  that 
State,  Mr.  Brooks  returned  with  his  family  to  this 
count}'  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the  old  homestead.  He  has 
since  been  successfully  engaged  in  farming.  The 
boundaries  of  his  farm  Mr.  Brooks  has  since  ex- 
tended until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred  acres 
of  arable  land,  all  of  which  is  fenced,  while  the 
greater  part  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Among  the  improvements  there  seen  are  a  good, 
substantial  residence,  large  barn  and  other  neces- 
sary outbuildings.  In  addition  to  this  place  our 
subject  owns  a  forty-acre  tract  on  the  river  bottom, 
which  is  also  improved.  He  is  numbered  among 
the  substantial  and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity. Although  he  has  devotee!  the  greater 


418 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


part  of  liis  time  and  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests, he  lias  found  time  to  faithfully  discharge 
his  duties  of  citizenship  and  is  a  most  valued  resi- 
dent of  his  native  county.  Since  casting  his  .first 
Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant  in  1868,  he  has 
been  a  warm  advocate  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  Al- 
most his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  Jasper 
County,  which  he  has  seen  change  from  a  wilder- 
ness to  one  of  the  best  counties  in  southern  Illi- 
nois. He  has  helped  to  develop  and  upbuild  it, 
and  manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  every- 
thing that  pertains  to  its  welfare. 


xp^ODFBEY  RUN  YON  (deceased)  was  born 
jl(  (==-  in  Rockingliam  County,  Va.,  November  22, 
^jjl  1833,  and  when  quite  young  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Ohio,  the  family  becoming  pioneers 
of  the  locality  in  which  they  settled.  Godfrey 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  upon  the  home 
farm  in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  during  the  winter 
season  attended  the  common  schools.  He  also 
studied  at  nights  to  further  perfect  his  education. 
With  the  family  he  came  to  Illinois  in  March,  1853, 
locating  in  Noble  Township,  Richland  County, 
when  the  section  all  around  was  an  unimproved 
tract  of  prairie  land.  On  attaining  to  man's  es- 
tate he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  securing 
sixty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  that  which  his  father 
had  entered  from  the  Government. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two  Mr.  Runyon  married 
Miss  Emih'  Morrison,  who  was  born  in  England, 
February  11,  1838.  Her  parents,  Lewis  and  Lydia 
(Tullock)  Morrison,  were  both  natives  of  the  same 
country,  and  there  remained  until  1840,  when 
they  bade  adieu  to  their  old  home  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  the  New  World.  They  made  a  loca- 
tion in  St.  Louis,  where  the  girlhood  days  of  Mrs. 
Runyon  were  passed.  Her  education  was  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  Her  father  was 
a  well-educated  man,  and  served  as  a  book-keeper 
and  telegraph  operator.  In  18.r>,r>.  he  came  to 


Richland  County,  111.,  and  from  the  Government 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  Decker  Township.  It  was  all  wild  and  unde- 
veloped, not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or  an 
improvement  made,  but  he  located  thereon  and 
began  transforming  it  into  a  good  farm.  Subse- 
quently he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Olney,  where 
he  spent  seven  years.  Before  his  death  he  re- 
turned to  England,  but  again  came  to  America, 
and  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  in  El  Paso, 
111.,  about  twenty-five  years  ago.  His  wife  had 
passed  away  several  years  previous. 

In  the  Morrison  family  were  five  children,  as 
follows:  Mrs.  Runyon;  Mrs.  Eliza  Barney,  of  Kear- 
ney, Neb.;  Mary,  of  Woodford  County,  111.;  Mrs. 
Lydia  Barney,  of  Kearney,  Neb.;  and  William  II.,  a 
telegraph  operator  and  grain  buyer  in  La  Fayctte, 
Ind.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a  highly  respected 
citizen.  In  politics  he  was  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Runyon  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Lewis,  whose  sketch  is  given  be- 
low; Francis,  who  is  at  home;  Amy,  wife  of  John 
Somer,  who  is  living  on  a  farm  near  Wynoose; 
Minnie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  and 
Bessie,  who  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Runyon  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm,  to  the  development  of  which  he  de- 
voted his  energies  throughout  life.  It  was  a  tim- 
bered tract,  but  he  cleared  and  improved  it,  and 
the  rich  and  fertile  fields  gave  evidence  of  his 
thrift  and  enterprise.  In  politics  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat. He  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Christian 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belongs,  and  he 
took  an  active  part  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding. 
He  aided  in  establishing  the  first  school  in  this 
district  and  his  wife  was  among  the  first  teachers. 
This  worthy  couple  were  prominent  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  best  interests  of  the  county,  and 
ranked  among  its  leading  and  influential  citizens. 
Mr.  Runyon  passed  away  October  6,  1886,  and  his 
death  was  mourned  by  many  friends.  His  wife,  a 
most  estimable  lady,  is  still  living  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Lewis  Runyon,  the  eldest  sou,  was  born  on   tl 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


419 


old  home  farm,  March  5,  1858,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools.  In  the  early  days  lie  had 
to  go  two  miles  to  school  across  the  prairie,  where 
the  grass  grew  higher  than  his  head.  He  was  early 
inured  to  the  arduous  labors  of  the  farm,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty-six  years  of  age. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1884,  Mr.  Runyon 
married  Jodie  Junkins  in  Decker  Township.  She 
was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  and  during  her 
girlhood  came  to  this  county  with  her  parents, 
David  and  Mary  Ann  Junkins,  who  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Dakota.  They  have  two  children:  Morri- 
son, born  December  6,  1885;  and  Ernest,  born 
August  28,  1887.  They  also  lost  one  child,  Clar- 
ence, who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a-half 
months. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Runyon  has  lived  upon 
his  present  farm  on  section  22,  Noble  Township, 
where  he  owns  forty  acres  of  land.  He  also  oper- 
ates an  additional  tract  of  eighty  acres.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  now  serving  as  School 
Director.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  Bethel.  Mr.  Runyon  is  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progress- 
ive young  farmers  of  the  community,  as  well  as 
a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  leading 
families,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
this  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers. 


J~j  OHN  CAMP,  one  of  the  public-spirited  citi- 

Jzens  of  Richmond  County,  resides  on  sec- 
I  tion  2,  Bonpas  Township,  where  he  owns 
and  operates  one  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land,  of  which  nearly  the  entire  amount  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  His  life  record  is  as 
follows:  He  was  born  near  Albion,  Edwards  County, 
111.,  May  14,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  H.  and 
Rebecca  (Slover)  Camp.  His  father  was  born  near 
Richmond,  Ya.,  and  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  Camp. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  William 
Camp,  and  his  father,  Joseph  Camp,  was  a  native 


of  Holland,  whence  he  emigrated  to  America 
with  three  of  his  brothers  early  in  the  eighteenth 
century.  They  first  located  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  from  which  State  they  removed  to  Virginia. 
Benjamin  Camp,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
enlisted  in  the  Colonial  army,  and  aided  the  Col- 
onies in  their  struggle  for  independence. 

When  a  young  man  Charles  Camp  removed  to 
Indiana,  locating  near  Boonville,  where  he  me.t 
and  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Mary 
(White)  Slover,  who  are  supposed  to  have  been  of 
German  descent.  She  was  born  in  East  Tennessee. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp  came  to  Illinois  in  1829,  and 
after  a  short  time  spent  in  Edwards  and  Coles 
Counties,  they  returned  to  Linnville,  Ind.,  where 
the  father  of  our  subject  spent  his  last  days.  He 
was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  also  taught  school 
for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  in  February, 
1842,  after  which  Mrs.  Camp  came  with  her  son 
John  to  Rich  land  County,  where  she  died  in  De- 
cember, 1875. 

Under  the  parental  roof  our  subject  was  reared 
to  manhood.  He  remained  in  the  State  of  his  na- 
tivity until  fifteen  years  of  age.  His  educational 
privileges  were  very  limited,  but  by  reading,  ex- 
perience and  observation,  he  has  gained  a  fund  of 
general  information.  He  now  lias  a  carefully 
selected  library,  and  is  a  well-read  and  intelligent 
citizen.  In  1844  he  went  with  his  mother  and  her 
four  younger  children  to  Wabash  County,  111., 
where  he  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  was  enabled  to  buy  a 
team  and  rent  a  farm.  In  1855  he  came  to  Rich- 
land  County  and  bought  a  part  of  his  present 
farm,  of  which  fifteen  acres  had  been  cleared. 

On  the  4th  of  April  of  that  year,  Mr.  Camp 
married  Mrs.  Ruth  McMillan,  widow  of  Archibald 
McMillan,  of  Richland  County.  She  died  Decem- 
ber 25,  1878,  and  on  the  18th  of  February,  1882, 
he  married  Mrs.  Julia  B.  Humbert,  of  Bonpas 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  an 
Elder  for  ten  years,  and  they  are  ranked  among 
the  highly  respected  citizens  of  this  community. 

Since  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Camp  has  devoted 
himself  assiduously,  to  farming,  and  his  broad  fields 
are  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 


420 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  gives  considerable  attention  to  the  breeding 
of  thorough-bred  Poland-China  hogs.  Besides 
these  business  interests,  he  has  for  several  years 
past  represented  the  Phoenix  Insurance  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Camp  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Franklin  Pierce,  but  when  Ft.  Sumter  was 
fired  upon,  he  joined  the  Republican  party,  and 
has  since  been  one  of  its  supporters.  For  twenty 
years  past  he  has  served  as  Notary  Public.  He  has 
also  been  Supervisor  and  held  other  public  offices, 
discharging  his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity. Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
society  of  Sumner. 

Although  not  blessed  with  any  children  of  his 
own,  Mr.  Camp  has  reared  six  adopted  children, 
namely:  Eunice  French,  now  of  Lawrence  County, 
111.;  Sarah  Freeman,  now  Mrs.  Witteman,  of  Bon- 
pas  Township;  George  McDole,  a  business  man  of 
Orleans,  Neb.;  Emma  S.  Brown,  now  Mrs.  M.  Bur- 
kett,  of  Friendsville,  Wabash  County,  111.;  Genida 
Pellem,  deceased;  and  Rosa  and  Anthony  Tesh. 
His  home  has  always  been  known  as  the  "Orphan 
Asylum."  No  one  has  ever  been  allowed  to  leave 
his  door  poor  or  hungry.  The  poor  and  needy 
have  found  in  him  a  true  friend,  and  out  of  the 
kindness  of  his  heart  he  has  furnished  shelter  to 
the  homeless  little  ones.  His  life  work  has  been  a 
blessed  one  and  his  practical  Christianity  has  not 
only  won  him  the  regard  of  the  multitude,  but 
will  find  recognition  in  the  home  beyond. 


v  R.  JOHN  G.  FRANKE,  deceased,  a  pioneer 
physician  and  druggist  of  Newton.  Jasper 
County,  was  a  native  of  Prussia.  He  was 
born  in  the  Province  of  Munstcr,  March 
17,  1817,  and  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Adam  and  Mary 
Franke.  His  father  was  also  of  Prussian  birth,  but 
his  mother  was  a  native  of  Switzerland.  Our  sub- 
ject was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age.  He  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  in  his  native  country  and. 
following  the  custom  of  his  family,  entered  upon 


the  study  of  medicine.  In  Ift38,  having  reached 
'his  majority  and  disliking  to  be  drafted  into  the 
military  service  of  his  country,  he  emigrated  from 
Germany  to  America  as  a  passenger  on  a  sailing- 
vessel.  The  ship  was  exposed  to  various  severe 
storms  and  barely  escaped  being  wrecked,  but  fin- 
ally reached  New  Orleans  after  a  tempestuous 
voyage  of  six  mouths.  On  arriving  in  that  city, 
Dr.  Franke  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  there  remained  for  several  years, 
when  he  removed  to  Missouri.  While  pursuing 
his  profession  in  that  State,  he  accidentally  met 
with  an  aunt,  also  a  physician,  who  induced  him 
to  come  to  Newton,  111.,  then  only  a  backwoods 
hamlet.  This  was  in  1849,  and  he  at  once  en- 
tered into  practice  in  this  place. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  1850,  the  Doctor  was 
here  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Fischer,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Eunick)  Fischer.  She  was 
born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  April  16, 1829, 
came  to  America  with  an  uncle  when  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  has  since  lived  in  Newton.  Ten  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Franke.  Charles, 
who  was  born  July  1,  1851,  died  on  the  1st  of 
September,  following;  Adam  A.,  born  September 
13,  1852,  was  married  September  14,  1880,  to  Miss 
Lizzie  Nigh,  and  is  a  leading  physician  of  Newton, 
being  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  John  C., 
born  September  12,  1854,  is  a  physician  and  resides 
in  Colorado;  Peter,  born  February  22,  1856,  was 
married  June  8,  1884,  to  Miss  Mary  Bushong,  and 
is  a  druggist  of  Newton;  Gerhard,  born  June  27, 
1857,  died  September  24,  of  the  same  year;  Mary 
T.,  born  March  13,  1860,  died  August  11,  1860; 
Emma  J.,  born  September  23,  1861,  became  the 
wife  of  O.  S.  Scott,  the  only  banker  of  Newton 
April  28,  1883;  Margaret,  born  August  3,  1862, 
died  June  17,  1866;  George  E.,  born  July  30, 1865 
is  a  dentist  of  Newton;  William  E.,  the  youngest, 
born  August  15,  1869,  is  now  a  practicing  physi- 
cian of  Newton. 

Dr.  Franke  established  a  drug  store  in  Newton 
soon  after  locating  here,  which  he  conducted  in 
connection  with  his  profession.  He  soon  built  up 
a  large  practice  but  found  it  hard  in  those  pioneer 
days  to  get  cash  for  his  fees  and  medicine.  Times 
were  hard  and  money  scarce,  so  the  Doctor 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


421 


often  obliged  to  accept  such  things  as  the  early 
settlers  could  part  with  in  payment  of  their  ac-4 
counts,  taking  hay,  provisions  and  sometimes 
young  horses.  It  finally  became  a  custom  of  the 
Doctor's  life  to  collect  together  a  bunch  of  horses  at 
certain  periods  and  drive  them  to  St.  Louis,  where 
he  sold  them  and  bought  drugs  and  medicines,  with 
which  he  would  stock  up  his  store.  He  prospered 
in  business  and  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. At  his  death  he  left  to  his  family  a  drug 
store,  three  farms  and  the  homestead,  which  in- 
cludes the  residence,  several  lots  and  a  business 
building.  Dr.  Franke  was  the  first  physician  of 
Newton,  and  in  1849  opened  the  first  drug  store  in 
this  placo,  which  he  kept  until  his  death,  March  15, 
1883.  His  son  Peter  then  succeeded  to  the 
business,  which  he  has  since  conducted  successfully. 
Another  son,  William,  received  his  medical  educa- 
tion at  Rush  Medical  College  and  at  the  St.  Louis 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  He  was 
graduated  from  the  last-named  institution  March 
15,  1892,  and  has  since  been  in  practice  in  his 
native  town.  The  Doctor's  three  elder  sons  all  at- 
tended St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College,  of  Teutopolis, 
and  he  strove  to  afford  them  good  educational 
advantages. 

In  politics,  Dr.  Franke  was  a  Democrat,  but 
never  sought  political  preferment.  He  was  an 
able,  successful  physician  and  had  the  patronage  of 
many  of  the  best  families  of  Jasper  and  adjoining 
counties.  In  the  early  days  of  his  practice  he  was 
subjected  to  much  hardship,  driving  often  without 
roads  or  bridges,  and  exposed  to  blizzards  and  se- 
vere storms,  where  there  was  no  chance  to  secure 
shelter.  He  was  an  indefatigable  worker  and  ear- 
nest and  faithful  in  discharge  of  his  professional 
duty  toward  his  patients.  He  was  a  man  of  warm 
and  kindly  impulses,  devoted  to  his  wife  and 
children.  A  good  husband,  a  good  parent,  a  good 
physician  and  a  good  citizen,  his  memory  will  long 
be  green  in  the  hearts  of  his  old  neighbors  and 
friends.  He  is  well  represented  in  the  profession 
and  in  business  circles  by  his  sons,  who  are,  in  their 
particular  fields,  winning  the  good-will  and  respect 
of  the  community  in  their  native  city.  His  good 
wife,  a  faithful  helpmate  for  so  many  years  and  a 
devoted  mother,  survives  her  husband  and  still 


resides  on  the  old  home.  She  and  her  three 
younger  children  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

Dr.  Franke  was  a  Mason,  a  member  of  Newton 
Lodge  No  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  generous 
and  fraternal  with  his  fellow-men,  regardless  of  the 
ties  of  Masonry.  Many  were  the  poor  patients, 
whose  circumstances  were  such  that  the  payment  of 
a  Doctor's  fee  was  a  hardship,  who  were  told  to  keep 
their  money  to  purchase  necessaries  for  their  fam- 
ilies and  had  their  accounts  canceled  by  him. 


>ILLIAM  THOMPSON  SHELBY,  a  resi- 
dent of  Olney,  is  one  of  the  well-known 
pioneers  of  Richland  County,  his  resi- 
dence here  covering  a  period  of  forty-eight  years, 
for  the  date  of  his  arrival  is  April,  1845.  He  was 
born  in  Edwards  County,  111.,  December  17,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Susan  (Thompson) 
Shelby,  natives  of  North  Carolina.  The  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject  emigrated  from  Wales 
to  America  long  before  the  Revolutionary  War. 
Like  many  others,  he  left  his  native  land  that  he 
might  secure  religious  freedom  in  the  New  World. 
The  mother  of  William  T.  Shelby  was  :i  daughter  of 
William  Thompson,  and  was  of  English  descent. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  emigrated  from 
their  native  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee,  locat- 
ing near  Nashville,  where  the}'  resided  about 
three  years.  In  1817,  they  carne  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Edwards  County.  The  father  passed  away 
July  5,  1837,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  3rears,  and 
his  wife's  death  occurred  a  few  years  previous. 
They  left  a  family  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
of  whom  William  is  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  He 
and  two  sisters  alone  survive.  Orpha,  the  older 
of  the  two  sisters,  is  the  wife  of  D.  Nicks,  of  Mis- 
souri; and  Celia  is  the  wife  of  Brants  Madden,  a 
resident  of  Richland  County,  Wis. 

Mr.  Shelby  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  un- 
til seventeen  years  of  age,  or  until  the  death  of  his 


422 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


father,  when  he  entered  on  an  apprenticeship  to 
the  trade  of  wagon-making  at  Albion,  Edwards 
County.  From  1845  to  1858,  he  carried  on  the 
business  of  wagon-making  and  was  the  .first  to  en- 
gage in  that  line  in  Olney.  As  already  stated,  he 
came  to  this  place  in  1845.  In  the  month  of  May, 
following,  he  returned  to  Albion,  and  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Eunice  Calkin,  daughter 
of  Joel  Calkin.  Her  mother  died  at  the  birth  of 
her  daughter.  Mrs.  Shelby  was  born  in  White 
County,  111.,  in  1825,  and  died  in  1882,  leaving 
four  daughters.  In  the  family  were  also  three  child- 
ren who  died  previous  to  the  death  of  the 
mother.  Of  these,  George  Oliver,  their  only  son, 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  The  three 
daughters  living  are:  Minnie,  wife  of  Harry  May, 
of  Olney;  Martha,  wife  of  George  G.  Morey,  of 
Chicago;  and  Eunice,  at  home.  Ella,  the  second 
daughter,  grew  to  womanhood,  married  O.  C. 
Palmeter,  and  died  in  1882. 

Mr.  Shelby  has  spent  many  years  in  official  life. 
His  first  official  position  of  importance  was  that 
of  County  Treasurer  of  Richland  County,  to 
which  he  was  appointed  in  1851,  and  subsequent- 
ly three  times  elected.  During  this  time,  he  was 
ex-ofticio  County  Assessor,  and  assessed  the  county 
six  times.  During  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent Buchanan,  he  was  Postmaster  of  Olney  for 
about  a  year  and  a-half,  succeeding  by  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  on  the  sudden  death  of  Josiah 
F.  Reed,  for  whom  he  was  bondsman,  and  by  vir- 
tue of  which  fact  he  obtained  the  position.  He 
subsequently  received  the  appointment  from 
President  Buchanan,  but  resigned  after  eighteen 
months'  service  He  was  then  elected  Sheriff  and 
served  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  he  was 
elected  County  Clerk  for  a  term  of  four  years  and 
after  an  interval  of  four  years,  during  which  time 
he  was  engaged  in  merchnndising,  he  was  elected 
and  re-elected,  until  he  had  served  in  that  capac- 
ity for  seventeen  years,  a  longer  period  than  any 
Richland  County  office  has  ever  been  held  by  any- 
other  individual.  In  1882.  he  voluntarily  retired 
from  office  and  has  since  that  time  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace. 

Mr.  Shelby  and  his  wife  journeyed  together 
through  life  for  thirty-seven  years.  Since  the 


death  of  his  first  wife,  he  has  married  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Jane  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Posey  County, 
Ind.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Whittaker,  an 
early  settler  of  that  county. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Shelby  has  always 
been  a  Democrat  but  never  a  strong  partisan. 
He  always  gives  his  support  to  those  interests 
calculated  to  benefit  the  community,  and  Olney 
finds  in  him  a  valued  citizen.  His  long  official 
career  has  always  been  characterized  by  the 
strictest  integrity  and  he  has  ever  possessed  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Born 
in  Illinois,  his  early  life  was  passed  on  the  fron- 
tier, for  such  was  the  State  during  his  youth.  He 
has  lived  to  see  her  take  her  place  in  the  front 
rank  in  the  sisterhood  of  States  in  wealth  and  im- 
portance. 


WILLIAM  w.  CHAPMAN,  a  well-known 

farmer  of  Granville  Township,  Jasper 
County,  residing  on  section  12,  has  lived 
upon  his  present  farm  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
When  he  located  thereon,  it  was  entirely  destitute 
of  improvement,  in  fact  much  of  it  was  covered 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  timber.  Erecting  a  log 
cabin,  he  began  life  in  frontier  style.  He  com- 
menced the  development  of  the  farm,  and  day  af- 
ter day  saw  the  cleared  tract  increase.  All  was 
placed  under  the  plow,  and  in  course  of  time  where 
once  stood  a  forest  were  seen  waving  fields  of 
grain.  In  connection  with  general  farming,  he  now 
carries  on  stock-raising. 

The  life  record  of  Mr.  Chapman  is  as  follows:  He 
was  born  near  Bloomfield,  Edgar  Count}', 111., Sep- 
tember 24,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Ruth 
(Hurst)  Chapman.  Their  family  numbered  twelve 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  The 
others  were  Thomas,  Henry,  Mary  A.  (deceased). 
George,  Louisa,  Joseph,  Hiram,  Emily,  Jane,  Rob- 
ert and  Edward.  The  father  of  our  subject,  who 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  Kdgar  County, 
111.,  when  a  boy  witli  his  father.  The  trip  was  made 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


423 


by  team.  In  1818  he  became  a  resident  of  Jasper 
County,  and  located  in  Crooked  Creek  Township, 
where  he  still  makes  his  home. 

William  Chapman  spent  the  first  eight  years  of 
his  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and  then  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  hither.  He 
attended  the  subscription  schools,  which  were  held 
in  a  log  cabin,  three  miles  from  his  home,  which 
distance  he  walked.  On  attaining  his  majority,  he 
left  the  parental  roof  and  began  life  for  himself. 
He  farmed  on  shares  until  August,  1862,  when, 
feeling  that  his  country  needed  his  services,  he  en- 
listed for  three  years  in  Company  E,  Ninety- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in  at 
Camp  Butler.  He  participated  in  the  first  attack 
on  Vicksburg,  but  was  ill  with  the  measles  during 
the  greater  part  of  that  siege.  He  was  then  sent 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  in  the  hospital 
from  June  until  October,  when  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  New 
Orleans  and  Sabine  Pass.  Later  he  took  part  in 
the  engagement  at  Ft.  Blakely  and  in  many 
others  of  lesser  importance.  He  was  very  fortunate, 
in  that  he  was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner, 
and  with  the  exception  of  the  time  spent  in  the 
hospital,  he  was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty. 
On  the  18th  of  August,  1865,  he  received  an  hon- 
orable discharge. 

Ere  leaving  for  the  war,  Mr.  Chapman  was  mar- 
ried, in  1861,  to  Miss  Hannah  M.  Roberts,  and 
the  following  children  graced  their  union:  Ida, 
who  died  in  1873;  Alice,  deceased;  Annie;  Will- 
iam, deceased;  Mary,  Stella,  Victor,  Emily,  Essie 
and  Josiah. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Chapman  returned 
to  his  family  and  for  three  years  engaged  in 
operating  a  rented  farm.  He  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  laud  and  began  the  development 
of  a  farm,  on  which  he  has  since  made  his  borne, 
lie  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  the  position 
of  Township  Assessor,  and  three  different  terms 
has  served  as  Township  Collector,  discharging  his 
duties  with  a  commendable  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity. He  takes  considerable  interest  in  political  af- 
fairs and  since  attaining  his  majority  has  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  part}'.  Socially,  he 
is  connected  with  the  Grand  Anny  of  the  Repub- 


lic. His* own  industry  and  enterprise  have  bi ought 
him  the  success  of  his  life,  and  his  honorable  and 
upright  career  has  gained  for  him  the  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


ACOB  ALV1N  BERRY,  who  now  resides  on 
section  4,  was  born  in  Bonpas  Township, 
Richland  County,  September  12,  1858,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Adeline  (Haynes) 
Berry.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Berry,  whose  sketch 
is  given  herein,  isone  of  the  pioneers  of  1841.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  with  her  father, 
Samuel  Haynes,  came  to  Richland  County  in  the 
same  year.  His  death  occurred  in  Bonpas  Town- 
ship about  1864.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died 
in  1866.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  were  born  five 
children:  Harriet  A.,  wife  of  C.  Robbins;  Jacob  A.; 
William,  who  died  in  infancy;  Edwin,  deceased; 
and  Charles  H.,  a  music  teacher  of  this  county. 

J.  A.  Berry  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm,  and  in  the  district  schools  acquired  his 
primary  education,  which  was  supplemented  by  a 
year's  attendance  at  Westfield  College,  where  he 
pursued  a  scientific  course.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  and  before  completing  his  course,  he  Iwgnn 
teaching,  and  has  followed  that  profession  during 
the  winter  seasons  since.  He  is  not  only  a  well- 
informed  man,  but  is  also  an  able  instructor.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  he  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1883  he  purchased  his  present  farm  on  section 
4,  Bonpas  Township,  where  he  has  built  acomfort- 
able  and  pleasant  residence,  also  erected  other 
buildings,  planted  a  fine  orchard  of  four  acres,  etc. 
He  now  owns  sixty-five  acres,  all  highly  improved, 
and  in  addition  to  general  farming  he  breeds  Ohio 
improved  Chester-White  swine  and  Jersey  cattle. 
His  stock  is  nearly  all  thorough-bred. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1883,  Mr.  Berry  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Tabitha  M.  Zook,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Zook,  of 
Olney,  who  is  of  German  descent.  They  had  two 
children,  but  the  elder  died  in  infancy.  Ora  is  a 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


bright  little  maiden  of  two  and  a-half  years.  The 
parents  are  both  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  in  social  circles  they  hold  a  high  po- 
sition. Mr.  Berry  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Benefit  Association,  and  is  a  stockholder 
in  the  Missouri  Guarantee  Loan  and  Building  As- 
sociation. Politically,  he  is  a  Republican  on  ques- 
tions of  national  importance,  and  in  local  politics 
he  is  independent.  For  four  years  he  served  as 
Treasurer,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  Mr. 
Berry  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
"and  progressive  citizens  of  Bon  pas  Township. 


•f»- 


JjAOOB  BERRY,    who   resides  on  section  4, 
Bonpas  Township,  Richland  County,  is  one 
|    of  the  oldest  living  settlers  of  this  commu- 
_  !    nity,  and   this   work   would  be  incomplete 
without  his  sketch.    He  was  born  in  Centre  County, 
Pa.,  July  5,  1810,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Herring)  Berry,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Keystone    State.     The  grandfather  also  bore   the 
name  of  Jacob  Berry,  and  was  probably  of  German 
descent.     The  maternal  grandfather,  Henry   Her- 
ring, also  came  of  a  German   family.     He  served 
for  six  years  as  a  teamster  in  the  Colonial  army. 

When  our  subject  was  two  years  old,  the  family 
re«ioved  to  Huntingdon  Count}',  Pa.,  and  eight 
years  later  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood.  When  a  small  boy  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  swing  an  axe  and  aid  in  clearing  up  the 
farm,  thus  being  earl}'  inured  to  hard  labor.  On 
the  12th  of  January,  1832,  he  married  Susan 
Land  is,  daughter  of  Samuel  Landis,  and  then 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  In  the  fall  of 
1841,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Richland 
County,  111.,  and  in  1843  bought  a  farm  on  section 
10,  Bonpas  Township.  The  trip  Westward  was 
made  by  team  in  frontier  style.  The  land  which 
he  bought  was  an  unbroken  forest,  but  he  built  a 
liewed-log  house  and  began  to  clear  away  the  tim- 
ber. There  were  bears,  panthers  and  wolves  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  deer  and  other  wild  game  sup- 


plied his  table  with  meats.  By  patience  and  per- 
severance, Mr.  Berry  cleared  and  improved  a  large 
farm,  much  of  which  he  has  since  sold,  although 
he  still  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren: Samuel,  John,  Andrew  J.;  Jacob  L.  (de- 
ceased); Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  G.  Preston;  Will- 
iam; Henry,  who  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
service  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years  as  a  member  of 
Company  E,  Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry, and  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  June  7,  1864;  Sarah 
J.,  the  wife  of  G.  Jagger;  Elizabeth  E.,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  H.  Weagel,  but  is  now  deceased; 
and  Joseph. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1832,  and  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  Republican.  He  has 
served  as  Collector  of  Bonpas  Township,  and  was 
also  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  fifty-six  living 
grandchildren,  and  seventy-five  living  great-grand- 
children, the  eldest  of  whom  is  seventeen  years  of 
age.  Although  nearly  eighty-three  years  of  age, 
Mr.  Berry  is  still  hale  and  hearty,  and  performs 
considerable  labor.  He  cuts  all  of  his  own  fire 
wood,  and  during  the  past  winter  he  cleared  two 
acres  of  land.  His  good  health  may  be  largely  at- 
tributed to  his  abstinence  from  intoxicating  liquors. 
He  has  always  been  a  temperate  man,  and  for  over 
thirty  years  he  has  used  no  liquor  in  any  form. 
His  life  has  been  an  honorable  and  upright  one, 
and  his  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity  com- 
mand the  respect  of  the  whole  community. 


.ILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  THOMPSON,  M.  D., 
of  Olney,  though  yet  in  the  prime  of  life, 
has  been  longer  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  this  city  than  any  other  member  of  the 
medical  fraternity  now  in  active  practice.  The  date 
of  his  locating  in  Olney  as  a  physician  was  1870. 
He  has  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  his  life  record 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


will  therefore  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our 
readers.  The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
having  been  born  in  New  Haven,  April  8,  1845,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  S.  Thompson,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Oinah,  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  mar- 
ried. Emigrating  to  the  United  States  with  his 
wife  and  their  only  child,  a  daughter,  he  settled 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  where  were  born  three  sons,  all 
named  William,  but  the  elder  two  died  in  infancy. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  the  only  son  who 
survived  early  childhood.  The  grandfather  was  a 
merchant  and  auctioneer  in  his  native  town  of 
Omah,  and  after  coming  to  this  country  he  for 
some  time  followed  the  same  pursuits.  Quite  late 
in  life  he  and  his  wife  decided  to  return  to  their 
native  land  and  pass  their  remaining  days  amid 
the  scenes  of  their  youth.  They  accordingly  re- 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  Ireland,  where  Mr. 
Thompson  died.  After  that  event  Mrs.  Thompson 
again  came  to  America,  in  order  to  be  near  her 
children  in  her  last  days.  Her  denth  occurred  at 
Elizabethtown,  now  Elizabeth  City,  N.  J. 

William  Thompson,  the  father  our  subject,  was 
for  many  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
malleable  iron  and  hardware,  both  in  Newark, 
N.  J.,  and  in  New  Haven,  Conn.  He  married 
Nancy  J.  Eaton,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Eaton.  The 
latter  was  a  native  of  the  Nutmeg  State,  and  was 
of  English  descent  on  his  father's  side,  but  of  Hol- 
land-Dutch ancestry  on  the  maternal  side.  The 
Eaton  family  has  long  been  a  prominent  one  in 
New  York  and  New  England.  Our  subject  was 
the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  eight  daughters.  The  Doctor's 
only  brother,  George  15.,  died  in  infancy,  and  he 
has  but  two  surviving  sisters:  Susan  Matilda,  now 
a  resident  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  the  widow  of 
Beniot  Honx;  and  Mary  A.,  widow  of  Henry 
White.  The  parents  removed  from  Connecticut 
to  Cincinnati,  where  the  mother's  death  occurred. 
Subsequently  the  father  came  to  Olney,  where  he 
died  April  2,  1887,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

The  Doctor  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  city. 
As  a  hoy  he  attended  the  public  schools  and  later 
was  a  student  at  Russell's  Commercial  and  Collc- 

21 


giate  Institute  in  New  Haven,  a  preparatory  school 
for  entrance  to  Yale  College.  After  leaving  that 
institution  he  was  for  a  number  of  years  engaged 
with  his  father  as  clerk  and  foreman.  In  1868  he 
went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  took  charge  of  the  malleable  iron 
and  hardware  manufactory  of  Miles  Greenwood. 
The  year  1874  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Olney.  Soon 
after  reaching  this  city  he  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
Edmund  W.  Ridgway,  and  began  practice  in  1876 
with  his  preceptor.  Two  years  later  he  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  won 
such  a  high  reputation. 

Dr.  Thompson  was  first  married  in  Cincinnati,  in 
1869,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  L. 
Locke,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jesse  13.  Locke,  of  Bour- 
bon County,  Ky.  About  eleven  months  after  their 
marriage  Mrs.  Thompson  died  leaving  a  daugh- 
ter, who  is  now  Mrs.  Lulu  J.  Axley,  wife  of  John 
M.  Axley,  a  broker  and  commission  merchant  of 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.  In  1874,  the  Doctor  was  un- 
ited in  marriage  with  Miss  Man  L-  Ridgway, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Ridgway,  of  Olney.  Their  un- 
ion has  been  blessed  with  five  children,  three 
daughters  and  two  sons,  but  only  the  former  are 
now  living,  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  having  suf- 
fered the  loss  of  their  only  boys.  Edna  Ridgway, 
the  eldest  daughter,  was  born  September  29,  1875; 
Sarah  Bower  was  bora  January  29,  1878;  Galen 
Virgil,  born  September  9,  1883,  died  January  27, 
1887;  Ernst  W.,  born  January  8,  1885,  died  on  the 
7th  of  June,  of  the  same  year.  The  youngest 
daughter,  Helen  Augusta,  was  born  November  21, 
1887. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Centennial  Med- 
ical Society,  of  Richland  County;  the  Tri-States 
Medical  Society;  and  the  National  Association  of 
Railway  Surgeons.  He  is  surgeon  for  the  Peoria, 
Decatur  &  EvansviHe  and  the  Chicago  &  Ohio 
River  Railroad  Companies.  Socially,  the  Doctor 
is  a  prominent  member  of  several  secret  societies. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  &  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, belonging  to  the  blue  lodge,  chapter,  com  man  - 
dery  and  shrine,  and  is  at  present  Generalissimo  of 
the  commandery.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Mod- 


426 


PORTRAIT  AND  lilOGUAFUICAL  IJECORD. 


era  Woodmen,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  tlie  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Mutual  Aid.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mrs. 
Thompson  has  been  the  organist  of  her  church 
ever  since  she  was  a  girl  of  thirteen  years.  She 
received  a  thorough  course  of  instruction  in  the 
Conservatory  of  Music  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

The  Doctor  served  on  the  Pension  Board  for 
eight  years,  having  been  appointed  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  President  Arthur  and  serving 
through  President  Cleveland's  first  term.  Dr. 
Thompson  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  eastern  Illinois,  and  has  established  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  As  a  citizen  he  ever 
takes  a  commendable  interest  in  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  his  town  and  county  and  is  esteemed 
as  an  enterprising  and  progressive  citizen. 


WIGHT  BURNETT,  a  photographer  of 
Olney,  has  been  engaged  in  business  in 
this  city  since  1857  and  has  won  a  repu- 
tion  that  secures  a  liberal  patronage.  lie 
claims  Connecticut  as  the  State  of  his  nativity, his 
birth  having  occurred  in  the  town  of  Windham, 
December  3,  1823.  His  father,  Clark  Burnett,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Vermont  and  learned  the  hat- 
ter's trade,  which  business  he  followed  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  When  a  young  man 
he  went  to  Connecticut  and  there  married  Lu- 
cretia  Smith,  a  native  of  the  Nutmeg  State.  In 
1832  he  removed  to  Huron  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  spent  the  succeeding  five  years  of  his  life,  and 
in  1837  went  to  Canada,  locating  at  St.  Cathar- 
ines, in  the  Niagara  District.  There  his  last  days 
were  passed,  his  death  occurring  in  1841.  His 
wife  survived  him  fora  number  of  years  and  made 
her  home  with  her  son  in  Olney  for  some  time 
prior  to  her  death.  She  passed  away  in  1873,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five. 

Dwight  Burnett  was  a  lad  of  nine  summers  when 
with  his  parents  he  went  to  Ohio.  In  1837,  he 
accompanied  them  to  Canada,  and  when  a  young 


man  shipped  as  a  common  sailor  on  a  whaling-ves- 
sel, following  the  sea  for  about  two  years.  In 
1840  he  returned  to  his  home,  and  the  succeeding 
spring  became  a  sailor  on  the  Lakes.  To  that  life 
he  devoted  his  time  and  attention  for  eight  years, 
and  for  the  last  four  years  was  mate  on  a  sailing- 
vessel  which  sailed  from  Chicago. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  1853,  near  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  Mr.  Burnett  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  Solomon  Bristol.  She  was 
born  in  the  Empire  State,  but  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Ohio.  Unto  them  have  been  born  two 
children:  Dr.  Edwin  C.,  now  a  prominent  physi- 
cian of  St.  Louis,  who  has  there  engaged  in  prac- 
tice for  eight  years;  and  Jessie,  wife  of  Prof.  II. 
W.  Shyrock,  a  most  successful  teacher,  who  is  now 
Principal  of  the  Olney  High  School.  They  also 
lost  a  daughter,  Julia  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years;  and  a  son,  Frank,  whose  death  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  four. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Burnett  spent  a  short 
time  in  northern  Ohio,  then  went  to  South  Bend, 
Ind.,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1857  came  to  Olney,  locating  in  this 
enterprising  and  beautiful  city  when  it  con- 
tained not  more  than  five  hundred  inhabitants. 
Here  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs  for 
about  four  years,  but  in  1862  abandoned  that  bus- 
iness and  embarked  in  his  present  line.  In  August 
of  that  year  he  joined  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land with  his  photograph  apparatus  and  was  thus 
employed  for  six  months.  He  then  returned  to 
Olney  and  opened  a  gallery,  which  he  has  since 
carried  on.  He  has  a  reputation  for  excellent 
work  and  has  built  up  a  fine  business.  He  was  se- 
lected by  the  Lake  City  Publishing  Company, 
which  will  receive  only  the  best  work,  to  take  pho- 
tographs from  which  the  lithographs  for  the  BIO- 
GRAPHICAL RKCOKD  of  Efflngham,  Jasper  and  Rich- 
land  Counties  were  made. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Burnett  was  formerly  an  old- 
line  Whig  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
/aehary  Taylor  in  1848.  In  1856  he  joined  the 
ranks  of  the  new  Republican  party  and  has  since 
supported  its  men  and  measures.  He  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  political  preferment,  desiring 
to  give  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  inter- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


427 


ests  of  his  profession.  He  is  a  popular  and  prom- 
inent citizen,  and  he  and  his  estimable  wife  justly 
deserve  the  high  regard  in  which  they  are  held  by 
all  who  know  them. 


jij)  EV.  E.  NEMKSCIIY  is  the  present  pastor  of 
St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Altamont, 
or  rather  its  location  is  about  one  mile 
^@)  southwest  of  the  village.  This  church  is 
attended  by  one  of  the  largest  congregations  of 
the  township  in  which  it  is  situated.  The  church 
was  organized  in  1865,  and  the  first  resident  pas- 
tor was  Rev.  J.  G.  M.  Hillemann,  who  came  to  Al- 
tamont in  1866.  Under  his  administration  the 
house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$2,500.  A  number  of  additions  and  improve- 
ments have  since  been  made  to  the  church  prop- 
erty, including  the  erection  of  a  steeple,  and  the 
purchasing  and  placing  therein  of  a  bell.  The 
church  has  also  been  nicely  carpeted. 

The  parochial  school  over  which  the  pastor,  Rev. 
Mr.  Nemeschy,  has  charge  as  instructor  numbers 
over  fift}'  pupils.  The  first  pastor  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Carl  Sabbann,  who 
was  the  minister  from  1879  until  1883.  When  he 
left  the  church  in  that  year  it  called  to  its  pastorate 
Rev.  Mr.  Nemeschy,  who  entered  upon  his  duties  in 
July,  1884,  and  lias  since  had  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation. The  Rev.  Mr.  Hillemann  is  now  located 
at  Howard's  Grove,  Sheboygan  County,  Wis.;  and 
the  Kev.  Sabbann,  who  was  the  second  pastor  of 
the  church,  is  now  living  in  Columbia,  Mich. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  in  1861,  and  is  of  Hungarian  descent.  His 
father,  .John  Nemeschy,  was  a  native  of  Hungary, 
and  his  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Caroline  Drews,  was  born  in  Germany.  Dur- 
ing their  childhood  both  left  the  lands  of  their 
birth,  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America, 
becoming  residents  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  in  which  city 
they  were  married  and  resided  for  many  years. 
The  father  died  in  that  city  in  1881.  The  mother 


still  survives  and  is  yet  living  in  Buffalo,  where 
the  family  have  so  long  been  residents. 

Rev.  Mr.  Nemeschy  is  one  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  consisting  of  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  are  yet  living,  and  are  still  resi- 
dents of  Buffalo,  with  the  exception  of  himself.  His 
education  was  acquired  in  his  native  city.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  the  parochial  school  of 
the  Holy  Trinity  Church,  Buffalo,  and  later  en- 
tered the  Martin  Luther  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1884.  The  following  year  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Wendt,  a 
daughter  of  Frederick  Wendt.  Three  children 
graced  this  union,  all  sons:  John,  Edward  and 
Paul. 

Immediately  after  leaving  college,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Nemeschy  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  of  St. 
Paul's  Church.  His  ministry  at  this  place  covers 
a  period  of  almost  nine  years.  He  is  an  earnest 
and  untiring  worker,  and  throughout  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  makes  his  home  is  held  in  warm 
regard,  not  only  by  his  own  people,  but  by  those 
of  other  denominations  as  well. 


MITH  GIBSON,  a  well-known  citizen  and 
substantial  agriculturist,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 31,  Denver  Township,  has  for  more 
than  forty  years  lived  in  Richland 
County,  and  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
its  growth  and  upbuilding.  He  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  throughout  its  borders,  and  we 
therefore  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life 
will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  He 
was  born  in  Braxton  County,  W.  Va.,  January  24, 
1824,  and  his  grandfather,  Nicholas  Gibson,  w.as  a 
native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  At  the  age  of  eight 
years  the  latter  was  taken  captive  by  the  Indians 
and  held  by  them  until  sixteen  years  of  age. 
They  pierced  his  ears  and  nose,  and  at  length  sold 
him  to  the  white  settlers  for  a  barrel  of  whisky. 
He  served  his  country  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  spent  his  last  days  in  Illinois. 


428 


PORTRAIT   AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


James  Gibson,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Virginia,  and  became  a  brick- 
layer. At  the  ago  of  eighteen  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Nancy  Smith,  whose  father  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  her  mother  of  Germany. 
Her  death  occurred  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  he 
then  wedded  Patience  Ocliiltree.  Emigrating  to 
Illinois,  they  located  on  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
home  of  our  subject,  and  in  a  log  cabin  on  the 
wild  prairie  they  began  life  in  true  pioneer  style. 
Both  are  now  deceased,  Mr.  Gibson  dying  at  the 
age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  pol- 
itics, and  a  faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the 
Protestant  Methodist  Church.  There  were  ten 
children  born  of  the  first  marriage:  Catherine  and 
Elmira,  who  died  in  Virginia;  Mary,  who  is  living 
in  Nebraska;  Amy,  who  was  married  and  died  in 
Clay  County,  111.;  Smith,  of  this  sketch;  Elijah, 
who  is  living  near  the  old  home  in  Virginia;  Emily, 
who  died  in  that  Stale;  Permelia,  who  died  in  Rich- 
land  County;  Temperance,  who  is  living  in  the 
Old  Dominion;  and  Mason,  who  died  in  Montana. 

Upon  a  farm,  Smith  Gibson  passed  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  acquired  a  good  ed- 
ucation and  at  the  age  of  twenty  began  teaching 
school,  which  profession  he  followed  for  one  win- 
ter after  coming  to  Illinois.  On  attaining  his 
majority,  he  embarked  in  farming,  and  four  years 
later  emigrated  to  Illinois,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the 
early  settlers  of  Richland  County,  which  has  since 
been  the  scene  of  his  labors.  He  first  purchased 
and  improved  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
Government  land,  but  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  thirteen  acres,  well  equipped  with  a 
good  home  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm, 
lie  also  cleared  a  nice  farm  in  Clay  County,  which 
lie  gave  to  his  sons.  During  the  war,  he  bought 
and  shipped  cattle.  From  a  financial  standpoint 
his  life  has  been  one  of  success,  and  though  he 
started  out  empty-handed,  by  determined  effort 
and  enterprise  he  overcame  the  dilficulties  in  his 
path,  surmounted  the  obstacles  and  worked  his 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence. 

Mr.  Gibson  was  married  April  16,  1854,  to  Miss 
Emily  J.  Stanley,  daughter  of  II.  15.  and  Susan 
Stanley,  who  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Clay 
County,  111.  Their  daughter  was  born  in  the  for- 


mer State.  The  children  born  of  this  union  are: 
Asa,  who  married  Adeline  Gard,  and  is  a  farmer 
of  Wayne  County;  and  Albert,  who  wedded  Cor- 
nelia Dewhiist,  and  operates  a  farm  adjoining  the 
old  homestead.  They  also  reared  Helen  Huford,  a 
niece  of  Mr.  Gibson,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Alex 
O.  Buford,  who  is  in  the  Advocate  office  in  Olney, 
111. 

The  parents  and  their  children  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  family  is 
one  of  prominence  in  the  communitj'.  Mr.  Gibson 
has  given  liberally  of  his  means  to  the  support  of 
the  church,  and  never  withholds  his  aid  from  any- 
worthy  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit,  but  has  always  refused  office.  He  has 
faithfully  discharged  his  duties  of  citizenship  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  townsmen  of  this  locality. 
He  well  deserves  representation  in  the  history  of 
his  adopted  county,  and  with  pleasure  we  present 
this  brief  record  of  a  well-spent  life  to  our 
readers. 


RIOR  R.  LEWIS,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  31, 
Granville  Township,  Jasper  County,  was 
born  in  Rush  County,  Ind.,  January  28, 
1839,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  Welsh  and  Irish 
ancestry.  His  father,  Adam  C.  Lewis,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see. She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  Rigdon. 
On  leaving  his  native  State,  Adam  Lewis  went 
to  Indiana,  making  the  journey  by  boats  and 
teams,  and  in  1819  located  in  Rush  County,  Ind., 
before  it  was  organized.  He  there  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1850,  when  he  took  up 
his  residence  in  Willow  Hill  Township,  Jasper 
County,  and  entered  from  the  Government  forty 
acres  of  raw  land,  upon  which  he  built  a  log  cabin. 
The  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  upon  the 
farm  which  he  there  developed,  and  on  the  14th 
of  March,  18G6,  he  passed  to  his  final  rest,  his  re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  P1OGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


429 


mains  being  interred  in  Brockville  Cemetery.  He 
was  a  Primitive  Baptist  minister,  and  the  upright 
life  which  he  lived  won  him  the  respect  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  In  politics  he 
was  an  old-line  Whig  until  the  dissolution  of  that 
party,  when  he  joined  the  Democracy.  His  widow 
is  still  living  in  this  county  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-four  years.  The  twelve  children  of  the 
Lewis  family  were  William  T.,  Mary  A.,  James  P., 
Melinda  ,1.,  Prior  II.;  Stephen,  who  died  in  1886, 
Nancy  in  1858,  and  Emily  M.  in  1885;  Delilah 
C.;  Rachel  M.,  who  died  in  1853;  Sarah  M.;  and 
John  M.,  who  died  in  1867. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  eleven  years  of  his 
life  in  the  State  of  his  nativity,  and  then  with 
his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  started  out  in  life  empty-handed 
to  seek  his  fortune.  He  began  working  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand,  and  his  fidelity  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  employer  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  remained  with  one  man  for  five  years.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period,  with  the  capital  he 
had  acquired  through  industry  and  economy,  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved  land 
on  section  10,  Crooked  Creek  Township,  and  de- 
voted his  energies  to  its  cultivation  from  1865 
to  1868,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  upon  the 
farm  which  he  lias  since  made  his  home.  He  first 
bought  only  sixty  acres,  but  now  owns  two  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  of  well-improved  and  valuable 
land.  His  time  and  attention  he  devotes  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising,  and  his  industry 
and  enterprise,  and  fair  and  honest  dealings  have 
been  crowned  with  a  good  degree  of  success. 

In  1864  Mr.  Lewis  chose  as  a  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  journey  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of 
William  M.  and  Frances  A.  (Wicoff)  Jones.  By 
their  union  have  been  born  twelve  children:  Bar- 
bara A.,  an  attendant  in  the  Insane  Hospital  of 
Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Marion  L.,  at  home;  Cora  A., 
wife  of  Calvin  O.  Jones,  a  farmer  of  Jasper 
County;  Ida  E.,  wife  of  John  Boy d,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Granville  Township;  William  I.,  of  Rock- 
ford,  111.;  Minnie  J.,  at  home;  Prior  R.,  who  died 
in  1876;  Myrtie,  Adam  C.  and  Ralph  W.  Two 
children  died  in  infancy. 


Mr.  Lewis  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs,  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues 
of  the  day  and  votes  with  the  Democratic  party, 
but  has  never  been  nn  office-seeker.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  Hunt  City  Lodge  No.  623, 1. 0.  O.  F., 
and  himself  and  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  Mr.  Lewis  possesses  lit- 
erary ability  of  a  high  order,  and  has  consider- 
able poetical  talent.  He  has  been  a  correspondent 
of  the  local  papers  for  a  number  of  years,  and  for 
about  five  years  has  been  the  correspondent  for 
the  Cincinnati  Enquirer.  A  man  of  keen  judg- 
ment, a  close  observer,  and  possessing  a  ready  flow 
of  language,  he  is,  therefore,  a  good  writer. 


OHN  FRITSCIILE,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  30,  Claremont  Town- 
ship, has  been  a  resident  of  Richland  County 
since  1839.  Almost  his  entire  life  has  here 
been  passed,  his  parents  coming  to  Illinois  during  his 
infancy.  He  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  Au- 
gust 25,  1839,  and  is  of  German  descent.  His 
father,  Jacob  Fritschle,  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
during  his  childhood  crossed  the  Atlantic,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye  State.  He 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Lydia  Stafey, 
a  native  of  Ohio, and  with  his  family  came  to  Rich- 
land  County  in  the  year  above  mentioned,  locating 
in  Olney  Township.  From  the  Government  he 
entered  a  small  tract  of  land,  upon  which  not  an 
improvement  had  been  made,  but  turning  the  first 
furrow  upon  it,  he  extended  its  development  until  it 
became  a  rich  and  fertile  tract.  He  also  added  to 
it  by  additional  purchase  until  he  had  cleared  and 
improved  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
acres,  and  another  of  three  hundred  acres,  lie  be- 
came very  well-to-do,  and  is  numbered  among  the 
prominent  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he 
has  so  long  made  his  home.  He  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead,  but  has  now  retired  from  farm 
labor,  having  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1850, 
after  which  Mr.  Fritschle  was  again  married,  but 
his  second  wife  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  Sep- 
tember, 1892. 

In  a  family  of  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  of 
whom  four  sons  and  three  daughters  are  yet  liv- 
ing, John  Fritschle  is  the  eldest.  The  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  upon  his  father's 
farm  in  this  county,  and  in  the  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  he  acquired  his  education,  but  his 
privileges  in  that  direction  were  very  limited.  He 
aided  his  father  and  to  him  gave  the  benefit  of  his 
services  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  farming  for  himself  and  settled  upon  the 
place  which  is  now  his  home.  It  then  comprised 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land,  but 
month  by  month  saw  an  additional  amount  placed 
under  the  plow,  and  in  the  course  of  time  the  en- 
tire tract  was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields.  He  labored  early  and  late,  his  industrious 
nature  finding  no  time  for  idleness.  His  first  home 
was  a  log  cabin,  in  which  he  lived  for  many  years, 
but  it  has  long  since  given  way  to  a  neat  and 
substantial  frame  residence.  There  are  good  barns 
and  outbuildings,  the  latest  improved  machinery, 
an  orchard  and  other  accessories,  which  indicate 
the  practical  and  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner. 
By  additional  purchases  from  time  to  time,  he  has 
also  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm,  until  it 
now  comprises  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  good 
land. 

Mr.  Fritschle  was  married  in  this  county  to  Miss 
Lydia  Kalrider,  daughter  of  George  Kalrider,  and 
by  their  union  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
eight  children:  Priscilla,  wife  of  Samuel  Burger, 
of  Jasper  County;  Lucinda,  wife  of  Asa  Cotterell, 
of  Richland  County;  Daniel,  Peter,  Susie,  George, 
Fred  and  Esther.  The  last,  a  bright  little  maiden 
of  five  summers,  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Fritschle  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
James  Buchanan  in  1856,  but  has  since  supported 
the  Republican  part}',  and  is  a  warm  advocate  of 
its  principles.  He  served  for  six  years  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board,  but  has  never  sought  or 
desired  the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office. 
Himself  and  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  in  the  community  where  they 


have  so  long  made  their  home  have  a  wide  circle 
of  warm  friends,  who  esteem  them  highly  for  their 
many  excellencies  of  character.  Few  have  longer 
been  residents  of  this  community  than  our  subject, 
who  for  fifty-five  years  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  Richland  County, 
and  for  a  long  period  has  aided  in  its  development 
and  progress.  His  memory  goes  back  to  the  time 
when  it  was  a  sparsely  settled  region,  unorganized 
as  yet  into  a  county,  and  he  has  seen  it  take  its  place 
among  the  leading  counties  of  southern  Illinois. 


OHN  GALLAGHER,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Richland  County,  residing  on 
section  1,  Decker  Township,  is  a  native  of 
the  Emerald  Isle.  He  was  born  in  County 
West  Meath  in  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Riley)  Gallagher.  The  father  followed 
farming  throughout  his  life  and  died  in  his  native 
land,  but  the  mother  crossed  the  Atlantic.  Her 
death  occurred  in  Richland  County,  and  she  was 
buried  in  Gallagher  Cemetery. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  bade  adieu  to  his  old 
home  and  emigrated  to  America  when  nineteen 
years  of  age.  The  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  drop- 
ped anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  Orleans  after  a 
voyage  of  seven  weeks  and  three  days.  Mr.  Gal- 
lagher then  started  for  Evansville,  Ind.,  but  the 
boat  on  which  he  was  going  up  the  river  got 
aground  and  the  passengers  were  all  put  ashore 
in  a  tobacco  field.  Finally  reaching  his  destina- 
tion, for  sixteen  months  our  subject  remained 
in  Evnnsville,  after  which  he  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period,  he  started  for  Texas,  but  again 
stopped  in  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  there  re- 
mained until  January,  1854,  when  he  came  to  Ill- 
inois. He  found  Richland  County,  especially  this 
locality,  almost  a  forest.  There  were  no  fences 
between  his  place  and  Noble,  and  the  work  of  prog- 
ress and  civilization  seemed  scarcely  begun.  lie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


431 


bought  eighty  acres  of  land  and  a  log  house,  and 
has  since  here  made  his  home.  As  his  financial 
resources  increased,  he  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred  acres 
.of  good  land,  highly  cultivated  and  well  im- 
proved. He  now  carries  on  general  farming. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1858,  Mr.  Gallagher  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Matilda  Maxfield,  a 
native  of  Wabash  County,  111.  She  died  March  26, 
1877, and  her  remains  were  interred  in  Gallagher 
Cemetery.  The  children  born  of  that  union  were 
James  M.,  a  merchant  and  Postmaster  of  Galla- 
gher, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  Annie,  wife  of  Valentine  Wyatt,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead;  and  John,  who  is  still 
with  his  father. 

Mr.  Gallagher  is  recognized  as  an  enterprising 
and  public-spirited  citizen.  For  twelve  years  he 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  School  Trustee.  He  cast  his  first  vote 
for  James  Buchanan,  and  has  since  affiliated  with 
the  Democracy.  We  see  in  him  a  self-made  man, 
who  began  life  empty-handed.  By  determination 
and  energy,  however,  he  has  overcome  the  diffi- 
culties in  his  path  and  secured  for  himself  a  com- 
fortable competence. 


11 — ENRY  YELCH,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  section  35,  Boiipas  Township, 
is  a  leading  agriculturist  of  Richland 
County,  and  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
progressive  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  he 
makes  his  home.  He  does  all  in  his  power  to  pro- 
mote those  interests  calculated  to  advance  the 
general  welfare  or  educational,  social  or  moral  in- 
terests. The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  we  thus  see  that  our  subject  justly 
deserves  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Yelch  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  having  been 
born  in  Cumberland  County  May  18,  1844.  His 
father,  George  Yelch,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  of  German  descent.  After  his  marriage 


he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming 
fora  few  years,  and  in  1840  came  to  Illinois.  In 
1843,  he  settled  in  Cumberland  County,  where  he 
bought  raw  land,  which  he  transformed  into  a 
good  farm.  Having  there  resided  for  twenty 
years,  he  sold  out  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Olney,  where  he  passed  his  remaining  days,  his 
death  occurring  in  August,  1873.  He  lies  buried 
in  Olney  Cemetery.  His  wife  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  June  29,  1887,  and  was  interred  by  the 
side  of  her  husband.  A  beautiful  monument  has 
been  erected  to  their  memory. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
five  daughters  who  grew  to  mature  years.  The 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  and  in  its  public  schools  he 
acquired  a  good  education.  About  1864,  he  came 
to  Richland  County,  and,  renting  land,  embarked 
in  farming.  In  1869,  he  located  upon  the  place 
which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  first  purchased 
an  eighty-acre  tract  of  timberland,  and  clearing 
away  the  trees,  plowed  and  planted  the  ground, 
built  a  small  house  and  log  stable,  and  made  other 
primitive  improvements,  but  as  the  years  have 
passed  he  has  developed  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
the  community,  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. The  home  is  a  neat  and  pleasant  residence, 
there  is  a  good  orchard  and  outbuildings,  and  the 
thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  his  care- 
ful supervision. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Yelch  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  Henry  Stadge,  a  sub- 
stantial farmer  and  honored  pioneer  of  Claremont 
Township.  Five  children  were  born  unto  them: 
George  William,  Charles  Edward,  Arthur  Freder- 
ick and  Pearlie.  John  C.,  a  son  of  a  former  marriage, 
is  now  living  in  Olney. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yelch  hold  membership  with  the 
Free  Methodist  Church.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  former^'  a  Republican,  but  on  account  of  hi.s 
temperance  principles  he  has  of  late  years  been 
identified  with  the  Prohibition  party.  He  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  office,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  good  suc- 
cess. He  is  well  known  in  Olnev  and  Richland 


432 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


County,  and  the  upright  life  which  he  has  led  has 
gained  him  many  warm  friends  and  made  him 
worthy  of  a  place  in  the  history  of  the  community 
in  which  he  has  so  long  resided. 


eHARLES  WETZEL,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  sections  13  and  24,  Bonpas 
Township,  Richland  County,  has  the  honor 
of  being  a  native  of  this  State.  He  was  born  in 
Logan  Township,  Lawrence  County,  August  10, 
1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Wilhelmina  (Bo- 
den)  Wetzel.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Germany.  The  father,  who  was  a  cooper  by  trade, 
came  to  America  about  1830,  and  located  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  On  leaving  the  Keystone  State 
he  went  to  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  about  1835  settled 
in  Lawrence  County,  111.,  on  a  farm.  There  he 
met  and  married  Miss  Boden,  a  daughter  of  Her- 
man Boden.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  but  four  died  in  infancy.  Those  living 
ate:  Charles,  Henry,  Lewis  and  Mrs.  Josephine 
Furnouf.  Henry  is  a  live-stock  dealer  of  Gray- 
ville,  111.,  but  the  other  three  reside  near  the  old 
homestead.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in 
Lawrence  County,  April  15,  1862,  and  his  wife, 
who  survived  him  for  a  number  of  years,  passed 
away  May  31,  1881. 

Our  subject  received  such  educational  advanta- 
ges as  the  common  schools  afforded.  His  boyhood 
days  were  spent  on  the  old  homestead.  His  father 
died  when  Charles  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  the 
iad  then  took  charge  of  the  farm,  which  he  carried 
on  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  then  began  life 
for  himself  as  a  farmer,  renting  land  for  a  few 
years,  after  which  he  purchased. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Wetzel  and  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Wooden  were  united  in  marriage.  She  was  born 
in  Monroe  County,  Ind.  Her  father  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Lawrence  County,  111.,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated  September  25,  1870. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
Carrie  J.,  now  Mrs.  .1.  O.  Smith;  Emma,  Albert  1L, 


Charles  and  Everett  F.  The  mother  died  April  15, 
1881,  and  on  the  12th  of  March,  1883,  Mr.  Wetzel 
married  Annie  Simmons,  whose  father  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Richland  County.  Three  children 
grace  this  union:  Herman,  Herbert  and  Mabel. 

In  1873  our  subject  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land,  a  part  of  his  present  farm,  of  which  twenty 
acres  were  cleared,  and  a  log  cabin  had  been  built 
thereon.  He  has  since  purchased  an  additional 
tract  of  eighty  acres  adjoining,  and  now  has  one 
hundred  acres  under  cultivation.  He  has  a  fine, 
thrifty  orchard  of  two  acres,  his  farm  is  fenced 
and  upon  it  are  good  buildings  and  other  improve- 
ments, which  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of 
the  owner,  and  stand  as  monuments  to  his  industry. 

IB  politics  Mr.  Wetzel  is  a  Democrat,  and  his 
first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Horace  Greeley. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
He  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  various  official  po- 
sitions, serving  for  one  year  as  Township  Col- 
lector, for  two  years  as  Supervisor,  and  for  three 
years  as  School  Director.  He  is  now  serving  his 
second  term  as  Trustee,  and  his  second  term  as  As- 
sessor. The  duties  of  his  office  he  has  discharged 
with  promptness  and  fidelity,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  progressive  and  public-spirited  citi- 
zens of  the  community  in  which  he  makes  his 
home. 


ARON  MONFORT  LIST,  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative and  well-known  farmers  of 
li>  Wade  Township,  Jasper  County,  resides  on 
section  30.  He  is  also  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  community,  having  here 
made  his  home  since  1856.  He  has  therefore  been 
a  witness  to  much  of  the  growth  and  development 
of  the  county,  and  has  seen  the  transformation 
that  has  changed  it  from  a  wild  and  unimproved 
region  to  one  of  prosperity  and  progress. 

Mr.  List  was  born  in  the  town  of  Linden,  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ind.,  June  21,  1849,  and  is  a  son 
of  William  W.  List.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Kentuck}7,  in  which  State  he  spent  his  boyhood 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


and  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Aaron  Aton, 
who  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  Hoosier 
State.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  List  engaged  in 
farming  for  !i  number  of  years  in  Montgomery 
County,  but  at  length  bought  a  home  in  Illinois, 
removing  in  185(5  to  Cumberland  County,  from 
where  he  later  came  to  Jasper  County.  Here  he 
settled  on  land  which  he  had  previously  entered 
from  the  Government,  and  which  was  in  its  primi- 
tive condition,  not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or 
an  improvement  made,  but  his  labors  transformed  it 
into  a  rich  and  valuable  farm.  Mr.  List  is  now 
living  a  retired  life  at  his  home  in  North  Muddy 
Township,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years.  His 
wife  died  in  March,  1882. 

The  si  bject  of  this  sketch  is  the  third  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  a  fainilj'  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Jacob,  the  eldest,  was  one  of  the 
boys  in  blue  during  the  late  war,  and  laid  down 
his  life  in  defense  of  the  Union;  Margaret  is 
also  deceased;  Aaron  is  the  next  younger;  Mar- 
tha J.  has  also  passed  away;  John  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1884;  Mary  is  the  widow  of  John  Kib- 
ler;  Abram  L.  resides  in  Denver,  Colo.;  and  Alma, 
who  is  also  deceased,  completed  the  family. 

Our  subject  came  to  Illinois  when  a  lad  of  about 
six  years  and  under  the  parental  roof  was  reared 
to  manhood  on  the  old  homestead  in  Jasper  County. 
He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  and  in  his  youth  aided  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm  and  to  a  limited  extent  attended  the 
common  schools.  On  reaching  man's  estate  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  as  a  farmer.  As  a 
companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  he  chose 
Miss  Charity  Dougherty,  a  native  of  Indiana.  Her 
earlier  girlhood  days  were  spent  in  that  State  and 
in  Iowa,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  she  went 
with  her  father,  John  Dougherty,  to  Cumberland 
County,  111.,  where  their  marriage  was  celebrated, 
March  17,  1873.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
six  children:  Lennis,  William  Arnold,  Minnie, 
Bertha,  Leroy  and  Goldie. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  List  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  two  years,  and  then  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  which  he  at  once  began 
to  develop  and  improve.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  lie  added  to  that  from  time  to 


time,  until  he  now  owns  three  hundred  acres  of 
arable  land.  The  rich  and  fertile  fields  yield  a 
golden  tribute  to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  the 
owner,  and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place,  with  its 
many  improvements,  including  a  comfortable  resi- 
dence, good  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  indi- 
cates the  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit  of  the 
owner. 

Mr.  List  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  yet  has 
found  time  to  faithfully  discharge  his  duties  of 
citizenship  and  bear  his  part  in  the  public  prog- 
ress. Education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and 
during  his  several  years'  service  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  he  has  done  much  in  its  interest. 
In  politics  he  has  been  a  stalwart  Republican  since 
casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant 
in  1872.  In  regard  to  his  business  career,  Mr. 
List  has  certainly  had  a  successful  one,  but  his 
prosperity  is  all  the  result  of  his  own  well-directed 
efforts,  his  good  management  and  business  ability. 
Thus  have  we  given  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  work 
of  one  of  Jasper  County's  most  influential  and 
prominent  farmers. 


J~JOHN  SHAMHART  is  the  owner  of  one  of 
I    the  valuable  farms  of  Wade  Township,  Jas- 
i    per    County.    It  is  situated    on  section   18, 
^         and  comprises  one  hundred  and  eighty-six 
acres  of  good  land.     A  glance  at  this  place,  which 
is  very  neat  and  tasty  in  appearance,  indicates  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner.     The  fields  are 
well  tilled  and  many  improvements  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  progressive  spirit,  including  a  pleas- 
ant home,  good  barns  and  all  other  necessary  out- 
buildings. 

Mr.  Shamhart  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
since  April,  1864.  He  was  born  in  Guernsey 
County,  Ohio,  October  28,  1827,  and  is  of  English 
descent.  His  grandfather  was  born  in  London, 
England,  and  crossing  the  Atlantic  became  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Baltimore,  Md.  He  died  when 
Henry  Shamhart,  the  father  of  our  suhject,  was  a 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


small  boy.  The  latter  grew  to  manhood  in  Balti- 
more and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
in  the  cavalry  service.  Emigrating  Westward,  he 
bccnine  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  and  there  married  Katie  Overly.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Shamhart  en- 
tered land  and  cleared  and  developed  a  farm,  on 
which  he  made  his  home  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  died  in  December,  1857,  and  was 
buried  on  Christmas  Day  in  St.  John's  Lutheran 
Cemetery.  His  wife  now  resides  with  her  daugh- 
ter and  is  enjoying  good  health,  her  eighty-six 
years  resting  lightly  upon  her. 

Our  subject  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in 
their  family  of  sixteen  children,  six  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased. Of  those  living  at  this  time  (April,  1893), 
Dr.  George  is  a  retired  physician  of  Jasper  County; 
Lavina  is  the  widow  of  George  Long  and  lives  in 
Guernsey  County,  Ohio;  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Day,  of  Guernsey  County;  John  is  the  next 
younger;  Elizabeth  is  the  widow  of  George  Hillard; 
Caroline  is  the  wife  of  Asbury  Knouff,  a  resident 
of  Guernsey  County,  Ohio;  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
William  James,  of  Guernsey  County;  P^phraim  re- 
sides in  Kansas;  Amanda  is  the  wife  of  George 
W.  Boulton,  of  Kansas;  and  Luther,  a  resident  of 
West  Liberty,  III.,  completes  the  family. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  dur- 
ing the  boyhood  of  our  subject,  which  was  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  usual  manner  of 
fanner  lads.  In  1853  he  went  to  California  by  the 
Nicaragua  route  and  spent  three  years  in  the 
gold  mines  on  the  Pacific  Slope,  returning  to  his 
home  by  way  of  Aspinwall  in  1856.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  took  up  a  farm  in  connection  with 
his  brother-in-law.  Mr.  Shamhart  was  married  in 
Guernsey  County,  Ohio.  April  26,  1857,  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Brill,  who  was  born  in  that  county  and 
was  reared  in  the  same  neighborhood  as  her  hus- 
band. Her  father,  Samuel  A.  Brill,  was  born  in 
Loudoun  County,  Va.,  June  1,  1803,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Guernsey  County.  His 
death  occurred  in  Jasper  County,  111.,  August  14, 
1879.  Mrs.  Shamhart's  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Amanda  Melvina  Smith.  She  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Washington  in  1814  and  died  May  20,  1854. 
Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  four 


children,  as  follows:  Columbia  C.,  wife  of  Henry 
Klier,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County;  Rosetta  J.,  wife 
of  John  Foster,  of  the  same  county;  Anna  May, 
the  wife  of  John  Etzell,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Jasper  County;  and  Dora  Belle. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Shamhart  rented  a  farm 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  after  a  year 
purchased  land.  He  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  that  locality  until  1864,  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Jasper  County,  111.  He 
rented  land  the  first  year  but  has  since  bought  and 
sold  several  different  farms.  He  removed  to  his 
present  farm  February  13,  1870.  At  that  time 
only  a  few  acres  had  been  cleared,  and  the  home 
was  an  old  log  cabin  with  a  puncheon  floor,  witli 
no  windows,  a  clapboard  roof  and  a  mud  and  stick 
chimney.  Mr.  Shamhart  deserves  great  credit  for 
his  success  in  life,  as  he  started  out  for  himself 
with  no  capital  and  nothing  to  depend  upon  ex- 
cept his  own  resources.  He  and  his  wife  suffered 
many  of  the  hardships  and  trials  of  pioneer  life 
during  their  early  residence  in  this  county,  but 
they  labored  on  together  and  success  has  at  length 
rewarded  their  efforts.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  which  characteristic,  com- 
bined with  his  industry  and  enterprise,  has  won 
him  a  well-merited  success.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society.  He  is  regarded 
as  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  is  one 
of  the  valued  residents  of  this  community,  and 
well  deserves  representation  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


^ILLIAM  EDWARD  COLVIN,  who  is  en- 
raged in  general  farming  on  section  7, 
laremont  Township,  has  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance in  Olney  and  Richlaud  County,  having  made 
his  home  in  this  locality  for  almost  forty  years. 
He  has  therefore  witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and 
development  and  has  helped  to  make  the  county 
what  it  is  to-day,  one  of  the  best  in  southern  Illi- 
nois. He  takes  a  commendable  interest  in  its 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


435 


progress  and  advancement  and   is  recognized    as 
one  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  community. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  our  subject  was  born  in  High- 
land County,  October  8,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of 
Peter  and  Abigail  (Davidson)  Colvin.  His  parents 
were  also  natives  of  Highland  County,  the  former 
born  in  1811,  and  the  latter  in  1814.  The  father 
there  cleared  and  opened  up  a  farm,  to  the  improve- 
ment of  which  he  devoted  his  energies  until  the 
fall  of  1854,  when  he  removed  to»the  West.  Com- 
ing to  Richland  County,  111.,  he  cast  in  his  lot  with 
ihe  early  settlers  of  Claremont  Township,  and 
there  bought  an  improved  farm,  known  as  the 
Thomas  Gardner  place.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  extensively  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. The  last  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  died  in  September, 
1883,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  a 
very  successful  farmer  and  at  his  death  owned  a 
place  of  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  well  im- 
proved with  a  neat  and  substantial  residence  and 
all  other  necessary  buildings  and  accessories.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  about  six  years  previ- 
ous to  the  death  of  her  husband,  and  they  were 
interred  side  by  side  in  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Cemetery, 
where  a  marble  stone  marks  the  last  resting-place 
of  the  worthy  couple.  In  the  Colvin  family  were 
four  sons  and  five  daughters  who  grew  to  mature 
years,  while  two  sons  and  three  daughters  are  yet 
living  at  this  writing,  in  the  spring  of  1893. 
James  is  operating  the  old  homestead  farm;  Mary 
Ellen  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Thomas  Leaf; 
Catherine  N.  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen;  Perry 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  Edward,  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  next  younger;  Nanc3r  is  the  wife  of 
Peter  Van  Meter,  a  resident  of  Oregon;  Elizabeth 
is  the  wife  of  James  Pittzer,  who  is  living  in  South 
Bend,  Ind.;  Henry  died  in  1892,  at  the  age  of 
thirty -seven;  and  Amanda  is  the  wife  of  Otis 
Colvin,  of  Nebraska. 

The  subject  of  this  record  was  a  lad  of  only  six 
years  when  with  his  parents  lie  came  to  Richland 
County,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  has  been 
spent.  During  his  youth  he  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  during  the  winter 
season,  while  in  the  summer  months  he  aided  in 
the  labors  of  the  farm.  He  remained  under  the 


parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
and  on  leaving  home  was  married,  on  the  7th  of 
December,  1871,  to  Miss  Lydia  J.  Jackson,  a  na- 
tive of  Highland  County,  Ohio.  She  remained  in 
the  Buckeye  State  until  a  maiden  of  fifteen  sum- 
mers and  then  came  to  Hichland  County  with  her 
father,  Jacob  Jackson,  who  settled  in  Madison 
Township,  where  he  is  still  living.  Mrs.  Colvin 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  the  Olney  High  School,  and 
for  a  time  previous  to  her  marriage  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching. 

Mr.  Colvin  purchased  a  small  farm  of  forty 
acres  of  land,  partially  improved,  and  began  its 
further  development,  but  after  a  year  he  sold  that 
and  bought  other  property.  He  has  owned  five  dif- 
ferent farms  in  this  county.  In  September,  1891, 
he  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  section 
7,  Claremont  Township,  his  present  farm,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  thereon.  The  substantial 
residence,  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings  are 
not  the  only  improvements.  There  is  a  good  or- 
chard, the  latest  improved  machinery  and  well- 
tilled  fields,  which  yield  to  the  owner  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  The 
place  is  pleasantly  located  three  and  a-half  miles 
east  of  the  Olney  Court  House,  and  is  a  valuable 
and  desirable  farm.  Mr.  Colvin  has  also  engaged 
in  buying  and  shipping  stock  for  the  last  fifteen 
years,  and  now  carries  on  the  business  extensively. 
He  is  also  an  auctioneer  and  has  successfully  con- 
ducted many  sales  in  twelve  years  in  Hichland 
and  adjoining  counties.  By  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Colvin  have  been  born  five  children:  W.  K., 
a  successful  teacher  and  farmer  residing  in  Rich- 
land  County;  Hamer  E.,  Peter,  Pearly  L.  and 
Carl,  who  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  They 
also  lost  one  daughter  in  infancy.  The  parents 
are  faithful  and  consistent  members  of  the  Carle- 
ton  Christian  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Colvin  holds 
office.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Order  of  United 
Workmen  and  Modern  Woodmen.  In  politics,  he 
was  formerly  identified  with  the  Democratic  party, 
but  now  supports  the  People's  party.  He  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  political  preferment, 
yet  was  elected  and  served  as  Commissioner  of 
Highways  for  five  consecutive  years.  The  faith- 


436 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


fill  and  prompt  manner  in  which  he  discharged  his 
duties  led  to  his  election  again  and  again.  The 
same  fidelity  and  earnestness  have  characterized  the 
discharge  of  every  public  trust  reposed  in  him  and 
have  won  him  the  esteem  of  all. 


,,..  NDREW  ,1.  KOONTZ,  a  well-known  agri- 
LUI    culturist  residing  on  section  5,  Wade  Town- 


4'  ship,  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Jasper  County  of  1853.  For  forty  years, 
therefore,  he  has  not  only  been  a  witness  of,  but  has 
been  identified  with,  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of 
the  county.  To  the  pioneers  the  community  owes 
a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  repaid  for 
what  those  worthy  men  and  women  did  towards 
developing  the  county's  best  interests. 

A  native  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Koontz  was  born  in 
Page  County,  October  3,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of 
David  11.  and  Catherine  (Foltz)  Koontz,  who  were 
born  in  the  Old  Dominion.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  followed  that  business 
in  Page  County  throughout  his  entire  life.  His 
death  occurred  in  1875,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
seventy-four  years,  and  his  wife  was  called  to  her 
final  home  in  1872. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  quietly  in  his  parents'  home  and  became 
familiar  with  the  occupation  which  he  has  followed 
as  his  life  work.  When  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
two,  he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
new  and  rapidly  growing  West,  and  chose  Illinois 
as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors.  In  1853,  he 
reached  Coles  County,  where  he  spent  about 
eighteen  months,  and  then  came  to  Jasper  County, 
locating  on  the  farm  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  came  into  possession  at  that  time  of  a  raw 
tract  of  prairie  land,  which  bore  little  resemblance 
to  the  cultivated  farm  which  we  now  sec  to-day, 
with  its  rich  and  fertile  fields  yielding  abundant 
harvests,  its  comfortable  residence,  good  barns  and 
outbuildings  and  other  accessories  of  a  model 
farm.  These  improvements  show  that  Mr.  Koont/ 


has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life.  In  addition  to  his 
own  property,  he  also  owns  another  tract  of  eighty- 
five  acres,  well  improved. 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1857,  in  Jasper  County, 
Mr.  Koontz  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Julia 
Kibler,  a  native  of  Page  County,  Va.,  and  a 
daughter  of  George  Kibler,  who  came  here  in 
1851,  and  is  therefore  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neers. Nine  children  have  graced  this  union. 
David,  George  and  John  are  all  married  and  re- 
side in  Kansas.  Mollie  is  the  wife  of  Reuben  Is- 
ley,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County.  Ida  is  the  wife 
of  T.  J.  Foust,  of  Jasper  County.  Isaac  L.  follows 
farming  in  this  county.  Lillie  A.,  Dora  and 
Clinton  8.  are  at  home. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Koontz  is  a 
Democrat.  In  1856,  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
James  Buchanan,  and  has  supported  each  Presi- 
dential nominee  of  the  party  since  that  time. 
Mrs.  Koontz  and  her  children  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  which  our  subject  also  attends, 
contributing  liberally  to  its  support.  In  all  pub- 
lic enterprises,  our  subject  bears  his  part,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  anything  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  During  his  long  resi- 
dence in  this  community,  he  has  won  many  warm 
friends  and  acquaintances  and  is  held  in  the  highest 
regard  by  all  who  know  him. 


EWIS  H.  BFSSELL,  the  leading  photog- 
rapher  of  Eltingham,  and  the  oldest  artist 
L-vs  in  that  city  in  his  line  of  business,  has 
been  located  here  since  July  4,  1874.  Since  he 
came  to  this  place  he  has  seen  eighteen  galleries 
established  in  Efh'ngham,  which  were  run  for  a 
time  and  then  discontinued  on  account  of  our  sub- 
ject receiving  such  liberal  patronage.  His  is  con- 
ceded to  be  the  largest  and  best-equipped  gallery 
between  Chicago  and  New  Orleans,  and  its  patrons 
can  depend  on  receiving  as  fine  work  as  can  be 
done  this  side  of  Chicago.  This  gallery  draws 
trade  from  a  radius  of  forty  miles,  and  Mr.  Bissell 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


437 


deservedly  enjoys  a  high  reputation  for  fine  work. 
His  courteous  and  fair  treatment  has  won  him  an 
extended  patronage. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Hunting- 
ton,  Ind.,  on  the  29th  of  June,  1859,  and  is  a  son 
of  Rev.  Sanford  R.  and  Sarah  (Preston)  Bissell. 
His  father  was  born  in  Connecticut  and  was  de- 
scended from  the  old  Puritan  Presbyterian  stock. 
He  is  still  living  and  makes  his  home  in  Spokane 
Falls,  Wash.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born 
in  Middleboro,  near  Akron,  Ohio,  and  died  at  her 
home  in  Ktlingham  on  the  18th  of  October,  1887. 

In  18(15,  when  a  lad  of  six  summers,  Mr.  Bissell 
of  this  record  came  with  his  parents  to  Eftingham, 
where  his  father  kept  a  private :  school  for  several 
years.  Lewis  H.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  under  the  supervision  of  his  father,  and  at  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  he  began  learning  the  photo- 
grapher's art,  having  considerable  taste  and  talent 
in  that  direction.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  bought 
an  interest  in  the  business  of  William  Lawson, 
which  connection  was  continued  for  a  year  under 
the  firm  name  of  Lawson  &  Bissell.  That  partner- 
ship was  then  discontinued  and  one  formed  in  the 
same  line  of  business  with  Thomas  Lyon,  and  under 
the  firm  name  of  Lyon  &  Bissell  they  carried  on 
operations  for  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  our  subject  wasaloneiu  business  for  a  year, 
after  which  he  became  associated  with  Mr.  Rankin, 
and  this  partnership  continued  fora  year  or  more. 
Since  1877  he  has  been  alone  and  has  had  a  most 
successful  career. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  1882,  Mr.  Bissell  was 
married  to  Miss  Ruby  Whittlesey,  their  union  be- 
ing celebrated  in  Chicago.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Madison,  Wis.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Elisha  and 
Ruby  Whittlesey.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  possesses  many  excellencies  of  charac- 
ter. Two  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bissell,  a  daughter  and  son:  Ruby  and  Gar- 
net. 

Mr.  Bissell  has  always  taken  quite  an  active 
part  in  public  enterprises  tending  to  upbuild  and 
improve  the  town  of  his  adoption.  He  has,  indeed, 
proved  himself  a  valued  citizen.  He  was  identi- 
fied with  the  establishment  of  Austin  College  and 
Normal  Institute  and  is  a  member  of  its  Board 


of  Trustees.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Effingham  Canning  and  Wood  Package  Company, 
and  for  a  time  served  as  Secretary  of  that  organi- 
zation. Socially,  he  is  a  Master  Mason,  holding 
membership  with  Elfingham  Lodge  No.  149,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  also  l>elongs  to  Venice  Lodge  No.  168, 
K.  P.,  and  to  Effingham  Division  No.  43,  Uniform 
Rank,  of  that  order.  He  was  Chancellor-Com- 
mander of  the  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
served  in  the  position  of  Recorder  in  the  Uniform 
Rank.  In  politics  he  is  a  Populist,  but  Js  not  act- 
ive or  strongly  partisan.  He  devotes  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  such  excellent  success.  Mr. 
Bissell  is  widely  known,  not  only  through  Efting- 
ham County,  but  in  adjoining  counties,  and  by  all 
with  whom  business  or  social  relations  have  brought 
him  in  contact  he  is  held  in  high  regard  as  a  man 
of  upright  character. 


NDREW  T.  DOUGLAS,  an  enterprising 
and  progressive  farmer  of  Mason  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  23,  owns  and  op- 
erates two  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres 
of  valuable  land.  This  is  one  of  the  fine  farms  of 
Effingham  County,  and  their  home  is  pleasantly 
situated  on  the  outskirts  of  the  village  of  Mason. 
Our  subject  was  born  in  Ohio  County,  Ind.,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  William  J.  and 
Sarah  A.  (Read)  Douglas,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  Ilis  boyhood  days 
were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  near  Rising 
Sun,  Ind.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  he  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  reached  his  majority.  In  the  spring 
of  1870,  in  company  with  G.  W.  Buchanan,  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  together  they  purchased  u 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  on  section 
14,  Mason  Township,  Eflingliam  County.  Mr. 
Buchanan  moved  his  family  to  that  farm,  and  Mr. 
Douglas  resided  with  them  for  a  year  and  a-half. 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


In  the  meantime,  the  latter's  father  purchased  a 
forty-acre  tract  adjoining  his  son's  farm,  and  this 
Andrew  rented,  removing  to  the  same. 

Mr.  Douglas  now  chose  a  companion  and  help- 
mate for  the  journey  of  life.  On  the  6th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1871,  he  wedded  Missouri,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Wallack)  Lostutter,  of 
Indiana.  One  child  was  born  of  their  union, Sam- 
uel C.  The  mother  died  June  6,  1874.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  a  lady  held 
in  high  esteem  by  her  many  friends.  On  the  21st 
of  October,  1877,  Mr.  Douglas  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Amelia  E.,  a 
daughter  of  Phreburn  G.  and  Eliza  Ann  (Cook) 
Paugh.  They  also  have  one  child,  William  E., 
born  December  1,  1878. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Douglas  resided 
upon  the  forty-acre  tract  of  land  before  men- 
tioned, and  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Mr.  Buchanan,  operated  the  two  farms,  comprising 
two  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  all.  This  business 
relation  was  continued  until  the  spring  of  1874, 
when  Mr.  Buchanan  sold  his  undivided  half  of  the 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acre  farm  to  the  father 
of  our  subject.  Father  and  son  then  carried  on 
business  in  partnership,  engaging  principally  in 
the  raising  of  hay.  Some  years  they  raised  as 
much  as  two  hundred- and  fifty  tons.  In  1873 
Mr.  Douglas  and  Mr.  Buchanan  built  a  large  hay 
barn,  58x70  feet,  which  would  hold  about  two 
hundred  tons  of  hay,  and  thus  they  had  ample 
capacity  for  storing  it.  In  connection  with  this 
business,  Mr.  Douglas  also  engaged  quite  exten- 
sively in  sheep-raising,  which  formed  an  important 
branch  of  his  industry.  In  1882  he  and  his  father 
purchased  an  additional  tract  of  land  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  acres,  which  they  together  owned 
until  1885,  when  the  farm  was  divided.  The  fa- 
ther took  the  first  purchase,  containing  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  acres,  and  our  subject  retained 
the  balance  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres, 
which  is  situated  on  sections  14  and  23,  Mason 
Township.  He  has  since  added  forty  acres,  mak- 
ing in  all  two  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres  in 
the  home  farm.  In  addition  to  this  he  also  owns 
one  hundred  and  six  acres  of  timberland  in  Union 
Township.  After  the  division  of  the  property, 


Mr.  Douglas  spent  two  years  in  Arcola,  111.,  as  a 
dealer  in  hay,  and  at  the  same  time  raised  two 
crops  of  broom  corn.  He  then  returned  to  the 
farm,  upon  which  he  built  a  good  house,  barn  and 
other  buildings.  This  farm  is  now  complete  in  all 
its  appointments,  lacking  in  none  of  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
The  rich  and  fertile  fields  are  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  the  neat  and  thrifty  appear- 
ance of  the  place  indicates  the  enterprise  and  in- 
dustry of  the  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  Cedar  Lodge  No.  211, 1.  O.  O.  F.,and  in  poli- 
tics is  a  Democrat.  He  is  at  present  School  Di- 
rector of  his  district,  an  office  he  has  filled  for  the 
past  three  years.  Mr.  Douglas  is  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  and  in  the  legitimate  chan- 
nels of  business  he  has  secured  a  handsome  compe- 
tency, which  numbers  him  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  Elfingham  County. 


J^OIIN  F.  PERRY,  a  well-known  farmer  and 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Richland 
'  County,  who  has  made  his  home  here  since 
_  1838,  is  now  living  on  section  19,  Clare- 
mont  Township.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Ohio  has  furnished  this  community,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Wayne  County  of  the  Buck- 
eye State  December  24,  1831.  His  father,  John 
Perry,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  when  a 
young  man  emigrated  Westward,  taking  up  his 
residence  in  Ohio,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss 
Rachel  Floyd,  a  native  of  Delaware.  Her  father, 
John  Floyd:  had  settled  in  Wayne  County  when 
it  was  on  the  Western  frontier.  The  year  1838 
witnessed  the  removal  of  Mr.  Perry  and  his  family 
to  Illinois,  and  in  Richland  County  he  entered 
and  purchased  land,  from  which  he  developed 
the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides.  He 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home, 


PORTRAIT  AND  ISIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


439 


however,  for  his  death  occurred  the  following 
year.  Mrs.  Perry  afterwards  married  again.  She 
died  in  1882,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
seven. 

In  the  Perry  family  were  two  sons  and  three 
(laughters,  who  arrived  at  years  of  maturity.  The 
eldest,  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Stockwell,  of 
Jasper  County;  Fletcher  is  now  deceased;  John  F. 
is  the  next  younger;  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Simons,  of  Richland  County;  and  Catherine  is  the 
wife  of  Isaac  Fritschle. 

Our  subject  was  only  seven  years  of  age  when 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  the  West.  lie  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  farm 
where  ho  now  resides,  and  after  his  mother's  sec- 
ond marriage  lived  for  a  few  years  in  Clay  County. 
His  school  privileges  were  quite  limited,  and  since 
attaining  to  man's  estate  he  has  acquired  the 
greater  part  of  his  education,  becoming  a  well- 
informed  man.  Not  long  after  the  breaking  out 
of  the  late  war,  prompted  by  patriotic  impulses, 
he  donned  the  blue,  and  in  July,  1861,  joined  the 
Eleventh  Missouri  Infantry.  When  his  first  term 
of  three  years  had  expired,  he  veteranized  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  his 
discharge  in  January,  1866.  He  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate, but  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Second 
Lieutenant.  He  participated  in  the  important 
battles  of  I  uka,  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  Nash- 
ville, and  was  wounded  at  luka  by  a  gunshot  in 
the  right  leg.  He  was  always  found  at  his  post, 
faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Perry  was  mustered  out  in  St.  Louis,  and 
returned  to  the  homestead,  of  which  he  soon  after 
took  charge.  lie  was  married  in  1854  to  Miss 
Charity  Stockwell,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a 
daughter  of  Michael  Stockwell,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Jasper  County,  111.  Since  locating  on 
the  home  farm  he  has  bought  out  the  other  heirs, 
has  erected  a  pleasant  residence,  built  good  barns 
and  other  outbuildings,  set  out  an  orchard,  and 
to-day  has  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desirable 
farms  of  Claremont  Township. 

Mr.  Perry  cast  his  first  vote  forMillard  Fillmore, 
but  since  war  times  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  of 
the  Republican  party  and  its  principles.  He  has 


held  several  local  ollices  of  honor  and  trust,  in- 
cluding those  of  Commissioner  of  Highways  and 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Calhoun  Grand  Army  Post.  He  and  his  wife  hold 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
of  which  he  is  Steward.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  reared  an  adopted  son,  George 
Thompson  Perry,  whom  they  took  in  infancy.  He 
is  now  grown  and  married  and  resides  upon  a 
farm  in  this  county.  The  kindness  that  led  them 
to  give  shelter  to  the  homeless  little  one  has  made 
them  friends  to  the  poor  and  needy,  and  has  char- 
acterized their  entire  lives,  so  that  their  many 
good  acts  have  won  for  them  the  love  and  respect 
of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 
Mr.  Perry  has  resided  in  the  county  since  1838, 
has  therefore  witnessed  almost  its  entire  growth 
and  development,  and  is  numbered  among  its  hon- 
ored pioneers. 


WILLIAM  T.  BAILEY,  a  representative 
farmer  of  Claremont  Township,  residing 
on  section  10,  is  oneof  the  oldest  remain- 
ing settlers  in  Richland  County,  having  spent  fifty- 
seven  years  of  his  life  in  this  community.  As  one 
of  the  honored  pioneers,  we  present  him  to  our 
readers.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  May, 
1822.  John  Bailey,  his  father,  was  born  and 
reared  in  England,  and  there  married  Elizabeth 
Price.  In  1818,  he  bade  good-bye  to  home  and 
friends  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the  New 
World,  locating  near  Great  Falls,  N.  H.  He  was 
a  fuller  and  finisher  by  trade.  Having  served  a 
seven-years  apprenticeship,  he  followed  that  busi- 
ness in  England,  and  also  for  a  number  of  years  in 
Great  Falls.  On  leaving  the  old  Granite  State, 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  eight  years,  after  which 
he  journeyed  Westward.  His  destination  was  Vin- 
ctnnes,  Ind.>  and  from  there  he  came  to  what  is 
now  Richland  County  in  1836.  The  county  was 


440 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


not  then  organized,  the  greater  part  of  the  land 
was  still  in  the  possession  of  the  Government,  and 
the  work  of  civilization  and  progress  seemed 
scarcely  begun.  Mr.  Bailey  entered  land,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  farm.  It  was  located  about 
two  miles  trom  the  present  village  of  Claremont, 
and  there  he  and  his  worthy  wife  spent  their  re- 
maining days,  and  when  called  to  their  final  rest 
their  remains  were  interred  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

In  the  Bailey  family  were  three  sons  and 
three  (laughters,  who  grew  to  mature  years 
and  became  heads  of  families.  Only  two  are 
n  )vv  living,  however:  Charles,  who  was  born  in 
England,  and  is  the  eldest  of  the  family;  and 
William.  The  latter  came  with  las  parents  to  Illi- 
nois when  a  lad  of  thirteen.  He  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  after 
which  he  began  to  earn  his  own  living  by  driving  a 
stage.  He  was  thus  employed  for  three  and  a-half 
years,  and  then,  renting  laud,  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  year.  In  this  county  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1854,  he  married  Miss  Nancy  Crapper.  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  1820.  Her  parents,  James  and 
Mary  (Dockens)  Crapper,  came  from  Kentucky  to 
this  county  in  1840.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Bailey  located  on  the  farm  which  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  A  small  log  cabin  and  a  few  acres 
of  cleared  land  comprised  the  improvements  upon 
the  place,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he  began 
development  and  his  earnest  labors  soon  wrought 
a  wonderful  transformation.  He  built  a  good 
substantial  hewed-log  house,  cleared,  broke  and 
fenced  his  land,  and  placed  nearly  the  whole  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  under  cultivation, 
lie  has  since  built  a  substantial  frame  residence 
and  made  other  good  improvements,  and  extended 
the  boundaries  of  his  farm  until  now  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  pay  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor 
he  bestows  upon  it. 

In  1893,  Mr.  Bailey  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  28lh  of  Janu- 
ary, at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years  and  eleven 
months.  For  thirty-nine  long  years  she  had 
proved  a  true  and  faithful  helpmate  to  him,  and 
was  a  lady  of  many  noble  traits  of  character, which 
won  her  the  love  and  esteem  of  all.  Two  sons 


were  born  of  their  union:  Henry  C.,  who  holds  a 
responsible  position  with  the  Western  Union  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  resides  in  La  Fayetle,  Ind.; 
and  Charles  L.,  whose  sketch  we  give  below. 

In  politics,Mr.Bailey  is  a  Republican.  He  has  been 
identified  with  that  party  since  its  organization, 
having  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856.  Prev- 
ious to  that  time  he  was  an  old-line  Whig.  The 
best  interests  of  this  community  have  ever  found 
in  him  a  friend,  and  he  has  done  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  those  enterprises  calculated  to  promote 
the  general  welfare.  He  has  done  effective  service 
in  the  interest  of  schools  during  the  several  terms 
that  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board.  He  has  not  only  been  an  eye-witness 
of  the  growth  of  Richland  County,  but  has 
aided  in  its  development.  lie  is  well  known 
throughout  the  community,  and  his  straightfor- 
ward and  upright  life  has  won  him  the  confidence 
and  high  regard  of  his  many  friends,  whom  we 
feel  sure  will  receive  with  pleasure  this  record  of 
his  life. 


IIARLES  L.  BAILEY  devotes  his  time  and 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  on  sec- 
tion 10,  Claremont  Township.  We  wish 
to  add  to  the  history  of  Richland  County  the 
sketch  of  one  of  her  native  sons  who  is  now  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  enterprising  and  progressive 
young  farmers  of  the  locality  in  which  he  resides. 
He  was.  born  in  Claremont  Township,  having  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the  old 
homestead  in  November,  1858.  lie  spent  his 
youth  upon  that  farm,  and  midst  work  and  play 
his  time  was  passed.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  is  now  a  well  in- 
formed man, who  keeps  posted  on  all  the  questions 
of  the  day. 

On  the  3d  of  October,  1884,  in  Knox  County, 
Ind.,  occurred  an  important  event  in  the  life  of 
our  subject, who  on  that  day  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Katie  Staunton,  who  was  born  in  Law- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


441 


rence  County,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Mary  Staunton.  She  is  a  lady  of  culture  and 
refinement,  well  educated,  and  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage successfully  engaged  in  teaching.  Three 
children  have  conic  to  bless  this  union:  Guy 
Clifton,  Nancy  Leila  and  Nellie  May. 

Since  the  death  of  his  mother,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bailey  have  removed  to  the  old  homestead  and  he 
carries  on  the  farm  in  connection  with  the  operation 
of  his  own  land.  He  is  a  successful  farmer,  and  the 
neat  and  thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  his 
careful  supervision.  He  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  Mr. 
Bailey  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality, 
they  hold  a  high  position  in  social  circles,  and 
throughout  the  community  have  many  friends. 


LIAS  C.  WARD,  who  owns  a  good  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  11, 
German  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
Uichland  County  since  January,  1852,  and  is 
therefore  numbered  among  its  early  settlers.  He 
claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Licking  County,  February  10, 
1823.  His  grandfather,  .Jonas  Ward,  emigrated 
from  Virginia,  and  settled  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  in 
17116.  lie  was  accompanied  by  Capt.  Jonas  Ward, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
the  Old  Dominion,  and  who  was  then  a  small  lad. 
He  was  reared  to  maturity  in  the  Buckeye  State, 
and  when  a  young  man  went  to  Licking  County, 
where  he  married  Elizabeth  Deweese,  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Deweese,  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Licking  County.  Capt.  Ward 
there  opened  up  a  farm  and  engaged  in  agricult- 
ural pursuits.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  held  a  Captain's  commission.  His  father  had 
been  one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes.  In  1847, 
Capt.  Jonas  Ward  removed  to  Crawford  County, 
111.,  and  after  several  years  went  to  Story  Cotin- 

22 


ty,  Iowa,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  days.  Her  death  occurred  in  1870, 
and  Mr.  Ward  passed  away  in  1874. 

The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  numbered 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  arrived  at  years 
of  maturity.  Tartus  M.,  the  eldest,  is  a  retired 
farmer  of  Washington  County,  Iowa;  Josiah  S., 
after  a  few  years  in  Iowa,  removed  to  Norton 
County,  Kan.,  where  his  death  occurred;  Dr.  Jonas 
L.,  now  deceased,  was  a  physician  of  Jersey  Coun- 
ty, 111.;  Electa  P.  is  the  wife  of  W.  R.  Doolittle,  of 
Story  County,  Iowa;  and  Jerusha  Elvira  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Park,  of  Jersey  County,  111. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity,  and  acquired  his  education  in  its 
public  schools.  Desiring  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
West,  he  went  to  Crawford  County,  111.,  in  1843, 
and  later  to  Rails  County,  Mo.,  after  which  he 
proceeded  to  Ft.  Scott,  Kan.  Subsequently  he 
returned  to  Missouri,  and  a  short  time  after  se- 
cured a  position  on  a  steamboat  on  the  Mississippi, 
and  for  three  years  followed  boating.  In  1846, 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year,  when  with  his  father's  family  he 
again  went  to  Crawford  County,  111.  There  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  wild 
land,  which  he  transformed  into  a  good  larm,and 
for  two  years  kept  "bachelor's  hall." 

In  1850,  Mr.  Ward  returned  to  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  on  the  1st  of  September  married  Sarah 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Isaac  Seymour.  She  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Licking  Countv.  By 
their  union  they  have  four  children,  as  follows:  . 
Orel,  now  the  wife  of  G.  L.  Jones,  of  Crawford 
County;  Florence  G.,  wife  of  E.  Z.  Jones,  of  Rich- 
land  County;  Clark  S.,  who  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  old  homestead; 
and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  J.  A.  Baker,  of  Crawford 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  also  lost  four  chil- 
dren in  earl}'  childhood. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  returned  with 
his  bride  to  his  farm  in  Crawford  County,  and  a 
year  later  came  to  Richland  County,  locating  on 
his  present  farm  in  January,  1852.  He  entered 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  prairie  land,  and 
for  a  year  they  lived  in  a  log  cabin,  but  soon  after 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


built  a  substantial  frame  residence.  They  suffered 
many  hardships  and  privations  during  the  first 
years,  but  the  land  was  new  and  rich  and  pro- 
duced bountiful  harvests  of  golden  grain  for  the 
labor  bestowed  upon  it.  Mr.  Ward's  condition 
and  surroundings  began  to  improve  from  year  to 
year  and  he  now  has  one  of  the  valuable  and  de- 
sirable farms  of  the  community,  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  supplied  witli  all  the  ac- 
cessories and  equipments  of  a  model  farm. 

Since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  Mr.  Ward  has  been  a 
stalwart  supporter  of  the  men  and  measures  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  elected  and  served 
one  term  as  Assessor  of  German  Township,  and 
for  years  has>  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
In  whatever  position  he  has  been  called  to  fill,  he 
has  proved  a  faithful  and  capable  officer,  yet  has 
never  been  an  ollice-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  signal  success. 


D 


T.  FRY  is  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Olney  Advocate,  a  leading  Republican  pa- 
per  of  Richland  County,  which  was  estab- 
)  lished  by  Wharf  &  Allison  in  1883,  and 
became  the  property  of  its  present  proprietor  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1890.  The  Advocate  is  a  nine-column 
paper,  half  home  print,  and  is  a  stanch  Republican 
journal,  ably  edited  and  printed  in  the  best  style 
of  the  art.  Its  present  proprietor  has  enlarged  the 
paper  from  a  five-column  quarto  to  its  present 
size.  The  Advocate  office  is  furnished  with  the 
latest  improved  presses,  operated  by  steam  power, 
and  its  facilities  for  doing  all  styles  of  job  work 
are  unexcelled  in  Richland  Count)'.  The  Advocate 
is  enterprising  and  always  to  be  depended  upon  to 
encourage  and  aid  all  worthy  public  enterprises. 
"  It  has  a  county  circulation  of  about  twelve  hun- 
dred. 

Mr.  Fry,  the  popular  editor,  is  a  native  of  south- 
ern Illinois,  having  been  born  in  Edwards  County, 


December  22,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Nancy  (Kenner)  Fry.  His  father  was  born  in 
Knox  County,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and  is  of  German 
and  Irish  ancestry.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  born  in  Princeton,  Gibson  County,  I nd.,  in 
1823.  They  removed  to  Edwards  County,  111., 
about  1850,  and  to  Richland  County  in  1865.  Mr. 
Fry  is  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  with  his  wife 
is  now  residing  in  Olney  Township,  Richland 
County.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig,  but  has 
been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  that 
party.  He  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Christian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  received 
a  common-school  education.     At  the   age  of  six- 
teen he  began  teaching,  and  was  so  employed  un- 
til 1881.     He  then  went  upon  the  road  as  a  com- 
mercial traveler,  and  devoted  his  energies  to  that 
line  of  business,  principally   in   Iowa,  until    1890 
when  lie  purchased  the  Advocate  and  assumed 
business  and  editorial   management.     In  October, 
1891,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Olney,  an 
on  the  confirmation  of  the  appointment  by    th 
Senate  on  the  16th  of  December  following,  he  en 
tered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  theoffi 
It  is  no  flattery  or  idle  compliment  to  Mr.  Fry 
say  of  him  that  under  his  management  the  Olne 
Postofflce  has  become  the  model  office  of  souther 
Illinois,  if   not  of  the  State,  outside  of  the  fe 
larger  cities.     His  corps  of  lady  clerks  are  promp 
courteous  and  exact  in  discharge  of  duty,  and  th 
patrons  of  the  office  feel  that  it  is  a  pleasure  rathe 
than  an  irksome  duty  for   the  clerks  to   wait  o: 
them.     It  is  the  unanimous  verdict  of  the   Olne 
public  that  Mr.  Fry  has   given   entire  satisfactio: 
in  the  management  of  the  office. 

Our  subject  has  taken  a  warm  interest  in   horti 
culture,  and  through  the  columns  of  his  paper  h.i 
done  much  to  encourage  the  planting  of  orchard 
He  has  done  what  many  writers  on  this  subject  hav 
not  done:  he  has  given  a  practical   demonstratio 
of  the  correctness   of   his   theories   by   planting 
large  orchard,  which  is  now  in   successful   bearing, 
He  has  fifty-five  acres  set  out  with  Ben  Davis  apple 
in  which  a  large  portion  of  the  trees  are  eight  yea 
old,  and  the   remainder   three.     It  is  one  of    the 
finest  young  orchards  in  the  county,  and  could  be 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


443 


readily  sold  for  *1(),00().  No  doubt  through  his 
writing's  and  successful  example  he  has  been  in- 
strumental in  having  several  thousand  acres  in 
Richland  County  planted  in  apples. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1877,  Mr.  Fry  was 
married,  in  Richland  County,  to  Miss  Catherine 
V.  Glathart,  who  was  born  in  this  county,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  John  Glathart.  Three  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union,  two  sons  and  a 
daughter:  Edward  K.,  born  in  Clay  City;  and 
Ernest  G;  and  Ethel,  natives  of  Olney.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fry  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  are  people  of  prominence  in  the  community, 
in  whose  social  circles  they  hold  an  enviable  posi- 
tion. Mr.  Fry  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  hold- 
ing membership  with  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F. 
&  A.  M.;  Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.; 
and  Gorin  Coramandery,  K.  T.,  together  with  Sa- 
laam Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  8.,  and  Olney  Lodge 
No.  95, 1.  O.  M.  A. 


eOL.  JOHN  LYNCH,  of  Olney,  was  bom  in 
what  was  then  a  part  of  Lawrence  County 
but  is  now  the  township  of  Olney,  Rich- 
land  County,  November  8,  1831.  His  father,  Will- 
iam Lynch,  was  born  near  the  <i\ty  of  Dublin,  Ire- 
land, was  reared  on  the  Emerald  Isle  and  there 
acquired  a  good  education.  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  for  several  years  a  book-keeper  for  a  Lon- 
don mercantile  firm, and  for  some  time  represented 
the  interests  of  the  house  at  Cape  Town,  whence 
he  came  to  the  United  States.  He  located  in  east- 
ern Illinois  about  1820  and  there  met  his  future 
wife,  then  Mrs.  Shields.  Her  maiden  name  was 
Ann  Bullard.  She  was  born  in  Rowan  County, 
N.  C.,  near  the  city  of  Salisbury,  May  20,  1798, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Bullard.  His  father 
was  an  Englishman  by  birth.  It  was  related  of 
him  that,  having  been  bound  out  to  learn  the  trade 
of  a  wheelwright,  he  became  dissatisfied,  ran  away 
and  went  to  sea  and  in  due  time  became  a  resident 
of  South  Carolina.  Later  he  went  to  North  Car- 


olina, where  he  lived  until  his  death.  These  events 
occurred  before  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His 
only  son,  John  Bullard,  served  in  the  war  for  the 
independence  of  the  Colonies.  He  was  but  a  boy 
when  the  war  began,  and  his  father  having  died 
previous  to  that  time,  he  lived  at  home,  assisting 
in  the  care  of  the  family.  A  party  of  Tories, 
scouring  the  country,  called  at  his  mother's  house, 
and  although  he  was  then  but  a  boy  of  fourteen 
years  they  captured  him  and  compelled  him  to 
accompaii}' them.  By  the  kindness  and  sympathy 
of  one  of  his  captors,  however,  he  was  allowed  to 
escape,  and  concealed  himself  in  the  woods  near 
his  home,  where  he  was  supplied  with  food  by  his 
mother.  He  thus  remained  hidden  until  such  a 
time  as  he  could  join  Gen.  Marion's  forces,  which 
he  soon  did.  He  participated  in  the  defense  of 
Ft.  Moultrie  against  the  British  fleet  and  witnessed 
the  gallant  and  historical  act  of  Sergt.  Jasper,  who, 
when  the  flag  was  shot  away  by  the  British,  sprang 
over  the  parapet  and,  seizing  the  colors,  restored 
them  to  their  place  on  the  fort. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Bullard  settled  down  in  his 
native  State,  where  he  remained  until  1812,  when, 
on  account  of  his  opposition  to  slavery,  he  resolved 
to  remove  from  under  its  influence.  Accordingly 
he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  Territory  of 
Indiana.  The  year  following  he  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  lose  his  life,  dying  of  a  prevailing  dis- 
ease, called  by  the  pioneers  the  ''cold  plague," 
probably  the  disease  known  to-day  as  congestive 
chills.  Two  sons  died  about  the  same  time  of  the 
same  disease.  Five  sons  and  three  daughters  sur- 
vived the  parents,  but  all  have  now  passed  from 
the  scenes  of  this  life.  The  last  survivor  was 
Amos  Bullard,  who  died  in  Texas  about  1888.  He 
was  formerly  a  well-known  citizen  of  Olney,  and 
was  Commissioner  of  Richland  County  at  the  time 
the  city  was  laid  out.  In  fact,  all  the  family  be- 
came well-known  citizens. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  1798, 
and  in  1817  was  married  to  her  first  husband, 
Thomas  Shields,  who  at  his  death  left  the  mother 
with  five  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  liv- 
ing, Mrs.  Mary  Gibbs,  of  California.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Shields  left  her  home 
in  Missouri  and  came  to  Lawrence  County,  I II.  In 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1830  she  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lynch,  who  died 
five  yours  later.  Col.  Lynch  and  a  daughter  are 
the  children  of  this  marriage.  The. latter  is  now 
Mrs.  Margaret  Brewer,  of  Olney.  In  November, 
1839,  Mrs.  Lynch  became  the  wife  of  Bryant  Hig- 
gins.  Her  death  occurred  in  the  autumn  of  1876, 
in  her  sevent3"-ninth  year. 

Col.  Lynch  was  born  and  reared  in  what  is  now 
Richland  County.  There  were  no  public  schools 
then  established  here  and  he  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  before  he  learned  to  read.  A  subscription 
school  for  a  short  time  during  the  year  furnished 
the  educational  facilities  of  those  days  on  the 
frontier,  and  nine  months  of  schooling  distributed 
through  several  years  constituted  his  advantages 
for  an  education.  lie  was  reared  to  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1858,  Col.  Lynch  married 
Miss  Catherine  Clubb,  who  died  November  21, 
1860.  On  the  20th  of  January,  1862,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Nelson,  daughter  of  John 
and  Elsie  (Maglone)  Nelson,  both  of  Irish  ances- 
try. The  father,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  removed 
with  his  parents  to  South  Carolina,  thence  to  Ten- 
nessee, and  in  1821  went  to  Posey  County,  Ind. 
Me  was  twice  married  and  had  three  children  by 
the  first  union.  Mrs.  Lynch  is  one  of  the  eight 
children  born  of  the  second  marriage.  Of  these 
there  were  two  sons  and  six  daughters.  The  eleven 
children  of  John  Nelson  all  grew  to  mature  years, 
but  one  son  and  two  daughters  are  now  deceased. 
The  father  died  February  13, 1872,  and  the  mother 
November  21,  1873. 

Col.  Lynch  was  among  the  first  to  respond  to 
the  call  of  the  President  foi1  volunteers  to  suppress 
the  rebellion.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1861,  he  or- 
ganized a  company  for  three  months'  service, which 
became  Company  D  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infan- 
try, and  of  this  company  he  was  made  Captain. 
The  regiment  was  commanded  by  Col.  Oglesby, 
afterward  General,  and  later  Governor  of  Illinois. 
Col.  Lynch  had  of  course  received  no  military 
training  and  lie  soon  found  that  his  want  of 
knowledge  of  military  matters  was  likely  to  stand 
in  the  way  of  his  success  as  an  officer.  He  accord- 
ingly did  what  probably  no  other  officer  of  his 
rank  in  the  State  of  Illinois  did  during  the  war. 


He  resigned  his  commission  as  Captain  after  com- 
manding the  company  one  month, and  voluntarily 
took  a  place  in  the  ranks,  where  lie  served  during 
the  remainder  of  his  term.  After  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out  he  assisted  in  raising  Company 
E  of  the  Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  on  its  organi- 
zation was  made  First  Lieutenant  and  was  regu- 
larly promoted  through  all  the  grades,  as  Captain, 
Major  and  Lieutenant-Colonel,  until  he  became 
Colonel  of  the  regiment,  which  he  commanded  for 
over  a  year.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  rank 
in  November,  1865.  He  thus  rose  from  the  ranks 
by  meritorious  conduct,  skill  and  bravery  on  the 
field  of  battle.  His  regiment  joined  Gen.  Sher- 
man's army  in  Memphis  in  August,  1862,  and  took 
part  in  the  Central  Mississippi  campaign  under 
Gen.  Grant  in  the  winter  of  1862-63,  going  into 
winter  quarters  at  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  January  13, 
of  the  latter  year.  On  the  17th  of  April  following 
he  started  on  Grierson's  famous  raid  from  La 
Grange  to  Baton  Rouge,  La.  This  was  the  most 
famous  cavalry  raid  made  during  the  war  on  either 
side,  not  excepting  Morgan's  raid  into  Ohio  soon 
after,  which  was  doubtless  prompted  by  the  suc- 
cess of  Grierson's  raid  and  in  retaliation  therefor. 
But  while  the  former  was  a  complete  success  the 
Morgan  raid  was  a  total  failure,  resulting  in  the 
destruction  or  capture  of  nearly  the  entire  Con- 
federate force.  Grierson's  command  rode  nearly 
through  the  Stale  of  Mississippi,  traveling  eight 
hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  sixteen  and  a-half 
days,  an  average  of  fifty  miles  per  day.  During 
the  raid  seven  battles  were  fought  with  the  Con- 
federates, who  vainly  sought  to  capture  the  Yan- 
kee troopers.  Instead,  our  army  destroyed  on 
the  route  thirteen  miles  of  the  Vicksburg,  Jackson, 
Brandon  &  Southern  Railroad,  and  one  hundred 
miles  of  the  New  Orleans,  Jackson  &  Great  North- 
ern Railway.  In  this  memorable  raid  the  Union 
forces  sustained  a  loss  of  but  seventeen  men.  On 
their  arrival  they  reported  to  Gen.  Banks  and  took 
part  in  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson.  The  Mississippi 
being  now  open,  the  command  returned  by  that 
route  to  Memphis,  from  which  place  it  was  engaged 
in  scouting  during  the  fall  and  early  winter  in 
western  Tennessee  and  northern  Mississippi,  in  the 
course  of  which  the  regiment,  which  was  in  ad- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


445 


vance  of  the  main  force,  met  a.  large  force  of  rebels 
under  Gen.  Steven  U.  Lee  at  Moscow,  Tenn.,  and 
was  badly  cut  up.  On  the  llth  of  February  the 
command  started  under  Gen.  William  S.  Smith  to 
form  a  junction  with  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  at  Me- 
ridian, Miss.,  but  was  driven  back  from  West 
Point,  Miss. 

Soon  after  the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans 
and  in  the  spring  of  1864  reported  for  duty  and 
was  engaged  in  scouting  until  October,  when  it 
was  ordered  to  join  Gen.  Thomas  near  Florence, 
Ala.  The  troops  fell  back  with  Thomas  to  Nash- 
ville, taking  part  in  the  meantime  in  the  battle  of 
Franklin  against  the  confederates  under  Gen. 
Forest.  They  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, assisting  in  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Hood,  and 
driving  the  Confederate  forces  across  the  Tennes- 
see River.  They  went  into  camp  at  Gravelly 
Springs,  Ala.,  in  January,  1865,  and  in  February 
crossed  the  river  to  Eastport,  Miss.,  and  scouted 
through  that  part  of  the  country  until  the  sur- 
render of  Gen.  Lee,  when  they  were  mustered  out 
of  the  United  States  service,  November  5,  1865,  at 
Sol  ma,  Ala.,  being  discharged  from  Camp  Butler 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month. 

Although  the  Colonel  participated  in  a  large 
number  of  engagements  and  was  so  long  exposed 
to  the  dangers  of  war,  he  escaped  without  wounds, 
though  many  times  he  did  so  narrowly.  His  horse 
was  shot  from  under  him  and  the  scabbard  of  his 
sword  was  hit  a  number  of  times  by  the  bullets  of 
the  enemy.  On  another  occasion  he  was  thrown 
from  his  horse,  receiving  severe  injuries. 

By  his  first  marriage,  Col.  Lynch  became  the  fa- 
thtr  of  one  child,  William,  who  died  in  his  third 
year.  By  his  present  union  have  been  born  three 
children.  John,  born  January  13,  1865,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law  in  Olney;  Frank,  born 
October  10,  1868,  is  also  a  lawyer,  resides  in  Chi- 
cago and  is  Assistant  State's  Attorney;  Tinnie,  the 
only  daughter,  is  at  home.  She  was  graduated 
from  the  High  School  of  Olney  in  the  Class  of  '92. 
In  early  life  Col.  Lynch  was  a  Democrat  and 
voted  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860,  but  in  1864, 
while  at  home  on  a  leave  of  absence  during  the 
war,  he  supported  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  Past 
Commander  of  Eli  Howyer  Post  No.  92,  G.  A.  R.; 


and  Companion  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal 
Legion  of  Illinois.  His  cordial  and  genial  manner 
and  sterling  worth  have  made  Col.  Lynch  a  popu- 
lar and  respected  citizen.  Although  his  advan- 
tages for  education  in  his  boyhood  days  were  ex- 
ceedingly limited,  he  has  ever  been  a  great  reader 
and  is  well  informed  on  the  general  issues  of  the 
day.  This  great  fact,  combined  with  his  large  ex- 
perience, makes  him  an  interesting  and  instructive 
companion.  Honored  as  a  soldier,  he  is  alike  es- 
teemed as  a  citizen. 


JlOHN  CHESTNUT  carries  on  general  far- 
ming in  South  Muddy  Township,  Jasper 
I  County,  where  he  owns  two  hundred  and 
'  five  acres  of  valuable  land,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
place  of  his  birth  is  near  Fayetteville,  Lawrence 
County,  Ind.,  and  the  date  of  that  event  was  De- 
cember 26,  1829.  His  father,  John  Chestnut,  was 
of  English  lineage  and  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
In  the  family  were  seven  children:  Louisa  J.,  Ben- 
jamin II.,  Charity,  Mahala  and  Ed  win,  all  deceased; 
John,  of  this  sketch;  and  Xiby,  who  has  also 
passed  away.  In  1841,  when  our  subject  was  two 
years  of  age,  John  Chestnut,  Sr.,  came  with  his 
family  to  South  Muddy  Township  and  entered 
land  from  the  Government,  developing  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  lived  until  his  death,  September 
20,  1844.  His  wife  survived  him  until  January 
10,  1849,  when  she  too  passed  away.  They  were 
people  of  many  excellencies  of  character  and  held 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Church. 

Since  his  third  year  the  subject  of  this  record 
has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper  County.  In  his 
youth  he  attended  the  subscription  schools  to  a 
limited  extent,  but  his  education  has  been  mostly 
acquired  through  observation  and  experience. 
Soon  after  his  mother's  death  he  was  bound  out 
to  William  II.  Lewis,  with  whom  he  was  to  remain 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  but  he  left  him 
at  the  age  of  twenty  and  began  life  for  himself  by 


446 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


farming  on  shares.  After  two  seasons  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  on 
which  he  could  make  a  payment  of  only  $34. 
The  tract  was  almost  entirely  undeveloped,  the 
only  improvement  upon  the  place  being  a  log 
cabin,  and  his  stock  consisted  only  of  a  two-year- 
old  colt. 

Mr.  Chestnut  abandoned  his  farming  operations 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1861,  to  enlist  in  the 
service  of  his  country.  He  joined  the  boys  in 
blue  of  Company  K,Tliirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  after  being  mustered  in  at  Springfield  went  to 
the  front.  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Fred- 
ericktown  (Mo.),  Perryville  (Ky.),  the  siege  of 
Corinth,  and  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Liberty 
Gap  and  Chickamauga,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner 
September  20,  1863.  For  about  three  months  he 
was  incarcerated  in  Libbj'  Prison  and  was  then 
taken  to  Danville,  Va.,  where  he  remained  about 
the  same  length  of  time.  Until  the  following 
September,  he  was  then  imprisoned  in  Anderson- 
ville,  after  which  he  was  held  in  Charleston,  S.  C., 
for  two  weeks,  and  then  sent  to  Florence,  S.  C., 
where  he  remained  until  February  following.  Af- 
ter being  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  for  seventeen 
months  and  six  days,  he  was  paroled  in  February, 
1865,  and  on  the  12th  of  April  was  honorably 
discharged.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River  he  was 
made  Corporal.  He  did  faithful  service  in  defense 
of  the  Old  Flag  and  when  not  a  captive  of  the 
Southern  forces  was  always  found  at  his  post  of 
duty. 

Returning  to  Jasper  County,  Mr.  Chestnut  lo- 
cated upon  the  land  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased and  began  farming.  He  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Etchison,  and 
unto  them  were  born  two  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  mother  was  called  to  her 
linal  rest  March  22.  1868,  and  the  following  No- 
vember Mr.  Chestnut  married  Miss  Charity  Etchi- 
son, by  whom  he  had  four  children:  Benjamin  II., 
John  M.  and  James  II.,  who  are  living,  and  Mary 
E..  twin  sister  of  John,  now  deceased. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
Mr.  Chestnut  has  been  one  of  its  stanch  support- 
ers. He  has  held  the  offices  of  Collector  and  Road 
Commissioner,  Pathmaster  and  School  Director, 


faithfully  discharging  the  duties  of  those  positions. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  also 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  performed  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  developing  a  new  farm  and  has  been 
an  earnest  worker  through  life,  his  competency 
having  all  been  acquired  through  his  own  efforts. 
He  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  his  success 
and  his  example  is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 


J~]  OSEPH   J.   VAN  MATRE,  who   carries  on 
general  farming  on  section  5,  lion  pas  To wn- 
j    ship,  was  born    near   Middleton,  Ind.,  July 
28,  1845.     He  is  a  son   of  Joseph   D.  and 
Naomi  Van  Matre.     His   father  was  a   native   of 
Kentucky,  and  comes  of  an   old   Holland   family. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Fayette  County, Ind., and 
her  mniden  name  was  also  Van   Matre.     She   now 
resides    in    Calhoun,  Richland    County,  111.     The 
parents   of  our  subject   came    to    this   county    in 
1863,  locating  on  a  farm    near  Olney,  where  the 
father  died  December  20,  1874.     Their   children 
are:  William  W.;  John,  deceased;  Joseph  J.;  Peter 
L.;  Elizabeth  M.;  Maria  E.;  and  Margaret  J.,  wife 
of  J.  Dodds. 

Upon  his  father's  farm  in  Indiana,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  spent  the  dayS  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  On  the  1st  of  August,  1863,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war  as 
member  of  Company  G,  Seventh  Indiana  Cavalry. 
He  was  employed  mostly  on  scouting  and  skinnisL 
duty,  and  took  part  in  the  disastrous  Sturgis  raid. 
At  Brice's  Cross  Roads,  he  had  a  desperate  hand- 
to-hand  encounter  with  a  Confederate  of licer.  He 
finally  dispatched  his  adversary  with  the  butt  of 
his  gun,  after  both  of  their  weapons  had  missed 
fire,  and  thus  saved  his  life.  He  also  took  part  in 
Smith's  raid  through  Mississippi,  and  participated 
in  the  expedition  which  drove  Gen.  Price  out  of 
Missouri.  After  pursuing  the  latter  through  that 
State  and  Kansas,  and  into  the  Indian  Territory, 
during  which  time  they  traveled  about  twenty-f 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


hundred  miles,  the  troops  went  to  Louisville,  Ky. 
After  the  war,  this  regiment  was  employed  in  an 
expedition  in  Texas,  under  the  noted  Gen.  Custer. 

Mr.  Van  Matre  received  his  final  discharge  in 
Indianapolis,  March  15,  1866,  and  returning  to 
the  North,  joined  his  parents  in  Richland  County. 
On  the  9th  of  November,  1869,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  wit'i  Miss  Sarah  A.  Jackson,  a  native  of 
Highland  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
Jackson.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own, 
but  are  rearing  an  adopted  son,  Harry  Michael 
Divine. 

In  1882  Mr.  Van  Matre  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  he  has  greatly  im- 
proved, and  in  1892  he  built  his  present  residence, 
a  neat  and  attractive  cottage,  pleasantly  located. 
He  is  an  eiUerprising  and  industrious  farmer, and 
ranks  among  the  substantial  agriculturists  of  the 
comiminit}'.  In  politics  Mr.  Van  Matre  was  for- 
merly a  Democrat,  but  now  belongs  to  the  People's 
party.  lie  has  served  his  township  as  Supervisor 
and  Assessor,  and  has  ever  l>een  a  public-spirited  and 
progressive  citizen,  who  does  all  in  his  power  to 
promote  the  best  interests  of  the  community.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Farmers'  Mutual 
Benefit  Association  movement,  and  is  a  member  of 
Ed  Kitchel  Post  No.  662,  G.  A.  R. 


JH  AMES  C.  BLOOR,who  owns  a  good  farm  of 
one   hundred   and   twenty  acres  on  section 
13,  German  Township,  is  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Richland  County,  dat- 
ing his  residence  from   1856.     He  claims  Indiana 
as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth   having  oc- 
curred in  Clark  County  October  8,  1827.     He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Jane  (Black)  Bloor.     His  paternal 
giandfathcr,  John  Bloor,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Eng- 
land   and  a  carpenter    by  trade.     Emigrating   to 
America,  he  located  in    Baltimore,  Md.,  where  his 
son    John   was  born.     The  maternal  grandfather, 
Jnnios  Black,  was  a  resident  of  Floyd  County, Ind. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  first  opened  her  eyes  to 


the  light  of  day  in  Pennsylvania.  John  Bioor, 
Jr.,  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Indiana,  and  after 
his  marriage  settled  in  Floyd  County.  Subse- 
quently he  purchased  a  farm  in  Clark  County, 
Ind.,  where  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  died  in  1847,  and  his 
wife,  who  survived  him  a  number  of  years,  reached 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  childhood 
days  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Clark  County,  aid- 
ing in  farm  work  during  the  summer  months  and 
conning  his  lessons  in  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  through  the  winter  season.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
and  then  went  to  Jefferson  County,  where  he  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  for  five  years.  Dur- 
ing that  period,  in  March,  1853,  he  was  joined  in 
wedlock  with  Miss  /erelda  Snodgrass,  a  native  of 
Jefferson  County.  Unto  them  have  been  born  two 
children,  still  living,  Emma  and  Jane,  both  at  home. 
They  also  lost  two  in  infancy,  and  a  son,  George, 
died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bloor  began  their  domestic  life  in 
the  Hoosier  State,  but  in  1856  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Richland  County  in  November  of  that 
year.  The  first  winter  was  spent  on  a  rented  farm, 
and  in  August,  1857,  Mr.  Bloor  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land,  of  which  thirty  acres  had  been 
broken.  He  at  once  began  its  further  develop- 
ment, and  in  course  of  time  waving  fields  of  grain 
greeted  the  eye  in  place  of  the  barren  prairie.  lie 
built  a  small  frame  residence,  which  was  his  home 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  1881  he  erected  a 
commodious  and  substantial  dwelling.  He  has 
also  built  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  has 
set  out  an  orchard  and  made  man3'  other  of  the  im- 
provements which  are  found  upon  a  model  farm. 
His  financial  resources  having  increased,  he  also 
bought  forty  acres  of  prairie  land  adjoining  and  a 
timber  tract  of  ten  acres. 

In  the  life  of  Mr.  Bloor  we  see  what  can  be 
accomplished  by  determination,  enterprise  and 
good  management.  His  possessions  have  all  been 
acquired  through  his  own  efforts,  a  fact  which 
should  serve  to  encourage  others  who,  like  himself, 
have  to  begin  life  empty-handed.  He  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  since  casting 


448 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Fremont  in  1856, 
and  the  men  and  measures  of  that  body  find  in 
him  a  warm  advocate.  The  cause  of  education 
elicits  liis  warm  friendship,  the  churches  receive 
his  support,  and  every  enterprise  calculated  to 
prove  of  benefit  is  given  his  hearty  co-operation. 
Such  a  man  is  deserving  of  the  high  regard  in 
which  Mr.  Bloor  is  held  throughout  the  commu- 
nity in  which  he  has  now  made  his  home  for 
thirty-seven  years. 


RANK  G.  AUSTIN,  the  efficient  manager 
of  the  EfHngham  Canning  and  Wood  Pack- 
age Company,  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  of  this  city.  He  was  born  in  Effingham 
on  the  23d  of  March,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Ed- 
ward and  Susan  L.  (Winter)  Austin,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  sub- 
ject spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  upon  his  father's 
farm,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town  until  December,  1884,  when  he  left 
home  and  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  farm  hand  for  a  time.  Afterward  lie 
went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  sought  and  se- 
cured a  position  in  the  Hecla  Iron  Works.  He 
remained  in  that  employ  for  a  time,  and  on 
severing  his  connection  with  the  company  ac- 
cepted the  charge  of  transporting  a  steamer  hull 
for  the  MeNabb  Coal  Company  from  Cincinnati 
to  Chattanooga.  The  hull  was  towed  down  the 
Ohio  and  up  the  Tennessee  River,  and  reached 
Florence,  Ala., on  the  14th  of  June,  1886.  It  being 
impracticable  to  proceed  further  at  that  time,  the 
boat  was  laid  up  there  and  its  upper  works  com- 
pleted and  it  fitted  out  with  machinery  as  a  river 
steamboat  under  the  direction  of- Mr.  Austin.  The 
boat  was  named  the  "Herbert,"  and  is  now  plying 
between  Decatur,  Ala.,  and  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

When  his  work   along  that   line  was   completed, 
Mr.  Austin  was  but  seventeen    years  of   age.     He 


returned  to  Cincinnati  and  thence  to  his  home, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  9th  of  September,  1886. 
Once  more  entering  school,  he  pursued  his  studies 
until  February,  1887,  when  he  went  to  Florence, 
Ala.,  and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  A  few 
months  after  reaching  that  city  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  gang  of  carpenters,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  May,  1889,  when,  his  health  being 
impaired,  he  returned  home.  On  the  31st  of  July 
following  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Emma  L.,  a  daughter  of  Charles  C.  and  Eliza  M. 
Smith.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  her  birth 
having  occurred  in  Fail-field.  The  union  of  the 
young  couple  was  celebrated  in  Effingham  and  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  a  daughter,  Heulah. 

In  the  fall  of  1889  Mr.  Austin  became  inter- 
ested in  the  Effingham  Canning  and  Wood  Package 
Company,  and  assumed  charge  of  the  construc- 
tion of  the  company's  works.  A  sketch  of  this 
industry  is  given  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
The  works  were  at  length  completed  and  opera- 
tions were  commenced  the  following  summer. 
The  business,  under  the  management  of  our  sub- 
ject, has  since  been  conducted  with  signal  success, 
and  the  trade  has  constantly  increased  until  it 
has  assumed  extensive  proportions. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  the  South,  Mr.  Aus- 
tin purchased  a  fruit  farm  of  fifty-five  acres,  ly- 
ing within  the  corporation  limits  of  Effingham, 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  which  he  makes  his 
home.  Recently  he  has  sold  twenty  acres  of  his 
original  purchase,  and  the  tract,  which  has  been 
platted  into  blocks  and  lots,  is  now  being  rap- 
idly built  upon,  thereby  increasing  the  value  of 
the  rest  of  the  tract  very  materially.  Mr.  Austin 
has  developed  good  business  capacity  and  execu- 
tive ability  as  a  manager,  which  fact  is  shown  by 
the  perfection  of  the  works  under  his  control  and 
the  success  of  the  enterprise. 

Mr.  Austin  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  in 
religious  belief  he  and  his  wife  are  Presbyterians, 
holding  membership  with  the  church  of  that  de- 
nomination in  Effingham.  He  is  a  stockholder  in 
the  Effingham  Apple  Orchard  Company,  and  he 
has  a  special  liking  for  good  fruit.  His  own  land 
is  well  planted  with  apple  and  pear  trees  and 
small  fruits.  Throughout  the  community  in  which 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


449 


he  resides  Mr.  Austin  is  recognized  as  one  of  its 
prominent  business  men.  He  is  not  only  clear- 
headed and  sagacious,  but  is  enterprising  and  pro- 
gressive and  in  his  young  life  has  already  won 
marked  success. 


HE  Olney  Paving  Brick  and  Tile  Company 
was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of  1891.  Its 
officers  are  J.  N.  Homer,  President;  John 
Wolf,  Vice-President;  and  Cliff  Shy,  Secretary. 
The  works  were  erected  in  1891  and  are  situated 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city.  Employment 
is  furnished  to  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  men, and 
the  annual  output  is  about  three  million  brick  and 
tile.  This  company  supplies  the  local  market  and 
ships  by  rail  to  neighboring  towns.  Their  supply 
of  clay  of  fine  quality  is  large  and  is  constantly 
increasing,  in  consequence  of  which  the  company 
finds  it  necessar}'  to  enlarge  its  works  and  intends 
doing  the  same  the  coming  season.  The  products 
of  the  factory  have  been  fully  tested  and  have 
proved  to  be  of  the  very  best  quality.  In  addi- 
tion to  manufacturing,  this  company  does  an  ex- 
tensive business  as  contractors  in  laying  pave- 
ments. 


,R.  HENRY  EVERSMAN,  senior  partner 
and  cashier  of  the  private  banking  house 
°^  Eversman,Wood  it  Engbring,  of  Efling- 
liam,  1 11.,  is  a  native  of  Hanover,  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Iburg  on  the  23d  of 
February,  1837.  His  parents  were  Dr.  Francis 
F.  and  Charlotte  (Fieren)  Eversman,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Hanover.  His  father  was  born  in  Alf- 
li.iusen,  in  September,  1808,  and  his  mother  in  Os- 


nabruck  in  1818,  but  both  are  now  deceased.  They 
had  a  family  of  three  children,  who  lived  to  ma- 
ture years,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  eldest. 
John  C.,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  is  a  retired 
merchant  of  Efflngham,  where  with  his  family  he 
resides.  Charles,  the  youngest,  married  Miss  Cath- 
erine Busse  and  is  a  druggist  of  Teutopolis,  Eff- 
ingham  County. 

The  father  emigrated  to  America  in  1835  and 
settled  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  learned  the 
drug  business.  He  was  there  employed  for  a  few 
years  as  druggist  of  the  Cincinnati  City  Hospital. 
He  also  studied  medicine  with  the  intention  of 
practicing  that  profession  and  was  graduated  from 
the  Ohio  Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati,  in  the 
Class  of  '45.  In  the  meantime  Mr.  Eversman,  in 
1836,  had  returned  to  the  land  of  his  birth,  but 
after  a  short  visit  with  his  family  again  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  to  America.  In  1845  the  father 
of  Dr.  Francis  E.  Eversman,  who  was  engaged  in 
commerce  between  Holland  and  the  East  Indies, 
brought  his  son's  family  to  the  United  States. 
They  went  directly  to  Cincinnati,  where  they  re- 
joined the  husband  and  fatherand  there  continued 
to  reside  until  1852.  In  that  year  the  family  re- 
moved to  Efflngham  County,  III.,  and  settled  in 
Teutopolis,  where  the  father  practiced  his  profes- 
sion for  many  years  with  marked  success.  He  did 
an  excellent  business  and  won  a  high  reputation 
as  a  skilled  physician.  His  death  occurred  in  May, 
1884.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  for  about 
six  years,  being  called  to  the  home  beyond  in 
August,  1890.  Both  were  consistent  members  of 
the  Catholic  Church. 

Dr.  Eversman  of  this  sketch  spent  the  first  eight 
years  of  his  life  in  the  Fatherland  and  then  with 
his  family,  under  the  care  of  his  grandfather,  came 
to  America  in  1845.  He  attended  the  city  schools 
of  Cincinnati,  and  when  prepared  to  do  so  he  en- 
tered the  Jesuit  College  of  that  place.  Within  its 
walls  he  pursued  his  studies  for  four  and  a-half 
years,  acquiring  an  excellent  education,  and  being 
thus  fitted  to  meet  the  practical  duties  of  life.  He 
studied  medicine  under  the  direction  of  his  father, 
and  after  a  regular  course  of  lectures,  which  he 
attended  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College  at  Cincin- 
nati, he  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in  the 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


spring  of  1861.  On  the  1st  of  March  of  that  year 
lie  was  appointed  physician  of  the  Commercial 
Hospital,  of  Cincinnati.  In  January,  1862,  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Lincoln  as  Assistant  Sur- 
geon of  Volunteers,  and  six  months  later  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Surgeon  in  charge  of  the 
army  hospital  in  New  Haven,  Ky.,  also  at  Nelson, 
Lexington,  Louisville  and  Beardstown,of  the  same 
State.  From  the  1st  of  February,  1864,  until  the 
1st  of  September,  1865,  the  Doctor  was  chief  med- 
ical officer  at  Johnson's  Island,  on  Lake  Erie,  at 
the  prison  for  rebel  officers.  In  that  prison  were 
incarcerated  thirty-five  hundred  officers  of  the 
Confederate  army. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  in  the  autumn  of 
1865,  Dr.  Eversman  came  to  Effingham  and  cm- 
barked  in  business  as  a  general  merchant,  in  which 
line  he  continued  until  March,  1879,  when  he  sold 
out.  Two  years  later,  in  September,  1881,  he  em- 
barked in  the  banking  business  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Kversman,  Wood  &  Engbring,  private 
bankers  of  Effingham,  of  which  house  he  has  been 
cashier  since  its  organization.  Mention  of  this 
business  is  made  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
Since  he  has  engaged  in  merchandising  and  bank- 
ing Dr.  Eversman  has  discontinued  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  In  the  interval  between  the  time 
of  his  retiring  from  merchandising  until  he  en- 
gaged in  banking  his  time  was  employed  in  set- 
tling up  the  estate  belonging  to  his  wife's  father. 

The  Doctor  was  married  in  Teutopolis,  Elflng- 
haru  County,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1865,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Caroline  Waschefort. 
Mrs.  Eversman  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in 
1847,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Mary 
(Drees)  Waschefort,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Germany.  Four  childten  have  been  born  of  the 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  three  daughters 
and  a  son:  Louisa,  the  eldest,  now  the  wife  of 
William  H.  Engbring,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
Eversman,  Wood  it  P^ngbring  Hank;  Mary,  at 
l>ome;  Elizabeth,  who  is  now  a  student  in  Alton, 
111.;  and  Henry,  the  only  sou  and  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  who  is  now  pursuing  his  studies  in 
Teutopolis  College,  of  Effingham  County. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  Dr.  Eversman  began 
teaching  school  in  Teutopolis  and  served  in  that 


capacity  for  four  and  a-half  years,  thereby  earning 
the  first  money  in  his  life.  By  virtue  of  his  posi- 
tion he  was  also  sexton  and  organist  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  He  had  had  no  musical  training  as 
an  organist,  but  having  a  natural  taste  and  talent 
for  music  he  taught  himself  and  soon  acquired 
sufficient  knowledge  of  the  instrument  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  the  position  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  congregation. 
The  same  enterprise  and  progressive  spirit  has 
characterized  his  course  through  life  and  won 
him  his  well-deserved  success. 

In  politics  Dr.  Eversman  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  ticket  and  has  twice  served  as  Mayor 
of  Effingham,  being  elected  to  that  office  in  1870 
and  again  in  1871.  He  has  also  held  minor  offices. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  and  the  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
Catholic  Knights  of  America.  He  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  of  good  land  in  Teutopolis 
Township,  but  has  made  his  home  in  Effingham 
since  his  marriage. 

Dr.  Eversman  is  enterprising,  yet  conservative. 
While  he  has  contributed  liberally  to  local  enter- 
prises in  a  public-spirited  way,  he  has  avoided 
everything  of  a  speculative  character  for  himself 
and  the  bank,  whereby  its  standing  might  be  im- 
paired or  the  interests  of  its  patrons  jeopardized. 
His  acquaintance  throughout  Effingham  County  is 
extensive,  and  after  almost  a  lifelong  residence 
here  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he 
commands  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens without  regard  to  nationality, creed  or 
politics. 


ENRY  G.  MORRIS,  the  present  State's  At- 
torney of  Richland  County  and  a  lawyer 
of  Olney,  was  elected  to  his  office  in  No- 
vember, 1892,  as  the  successor  of  Jasper  I. 
Moutray.  His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was 
born  on  the  9th  of  December,  1856,  in  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  in  his  early  childhood  attended  the  com- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


451 


mon  schools.  With  the  restlessness  of  boyhood, 
he  ran  away  from  home  at  the  age  of  eleven  years 
and  went  to  sea,  following  a  life  on  the  ocean 
wave  for  several  years,  during  which  time  he  vis- 
ited the  four  quarters  of  the  globe.  At  length  he 
abandoned  that  mode  of  living  and  settled  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y., -whence  he  removed  to  the  West 
in  1876.  He  went  first  to  Casey,  Clark  County, 
111.,  to  settle  up  some  business,  and  while  engaged 
in  that  transaction  made  the  acquaintance  of  many 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  vicinity,  who  persuaded 
him  to  make  that  point  his  home. 

For  some  years  our  subject  worked  on  a  news- 
paper, the  Casey  Times,  and  in  1879  was  elected 
Police  Magistrate  of  Casey.  So  well  did  he  fill 
the  office  that  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
was  re-elected.  In  1880  he  established  the  Casey 
Advocate,  and  continued  its  editor  and  proprietor 
until  1883,  when  he  sold  out.  Desiring  to  com- 
plete his  law  studies,  he  disposed  of  that  business. 
In  1888  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  United 
States  mail  service  on  the  Chicago  &  Ohio  River 
Railroad,  running  from  Olney  to  Sidell  in  Ver- 
milion County,  and  remained  until  April,  1889, 
when  the  Harrison  administration  removed  him 
on  account  of  the  active  part  he  had  taken  in  the 
Presidential  election  of  the  preceding  year.  In 
1888,  on  his  appointment  to  the  mail  service,  he 
removed  to  Olney,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
In  January,  1881,  Mr.  Morris  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Katherine  Gordon,  of  Madison 
County,  Ind.,  and  three  children  have  been  born 
of  their  union:  Sidney  C.,  Lena  and  Finest  K. 

tThe  family  circle  still  remains  unbroken. 
In  politics  Mr.  Morris  has  always  been  an  ad- 
vanced Democrat,  and  has  been  an  active  worker 
in  the  party  since  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Central  Committee  of  Clark 
County  for  ten  years,  often  serving  as  Chairman 
of  the  parly  conventions,  and  was  a  trusted  leader 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  that  county.  In  the 
Democratic  primary  of  1890,  he  having  in  the 
meantime  removed  to  Olney,  Mr.  Morris  was 
nominated  for  County  Judge  over  W.  L.  Shelby 
by  a  large  majority,  but  was  defeated  in  the 
fall  election  by  a  small  plurality  by  Judge  T. 
A.  Fritchey,  the  Republican  nominee,  on  ac- 


count of  the  defection  of  some  of  Shelby's  ad- 
herents. In  1891  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
standing  nearly  at  the  head  of  a  large  class,  and 
the  following  year  was  nominated  without  oppo- 
sition by  the  Democratic  party  for  States  Attor- 
ney and  elected  to  that  office.  Mr.  Morris  has 
been  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  Central  Com- 
mittee of  Richland  Count}'  since  the  spring  of 
1892,  and  to  his  skillful  management  and  untir- 
ing zeal  the  success  of  the  entire  ticket  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1892  is  largely  attributed. 

On  taking  up  his  residence  in  Richland  County, 
Mr.  Morris  established  a  real-estate  and  insurance 
business,  and  soon  worked  up  a  good  trade.  He 
is  a  far-sighted  business  man,  energetic  and  able, 
and  his  success  in  life  is  due  to  his  own  enterprise 
and  labor.  As  a  legal  practitioner  he  stands  in 
the  front  rank.  He  has  not  only  done  much  for 
his  party,  but  has  also  labored  for  the  interests  of 
the  city  in  which  he  makes  his  home,  and  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  public-spirited,  prominent 
and  valued  citizens  of  Richland  County. 


ORIAH  WARFEL  is  numbered  among  the 
substantial  and  intelligent  farmers  of  Jasper 
-.^.f-.-  County.  He  resides  on  section  30,  where 
he  owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Huntingdon  County,  No- 
vember 4, 1846.  His  parents,  Henry  and  Mary  Ann 
(Dougherty)  Warfel,  were  also  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  were  there  married.  About  1850, 
they  emigrated  to  Montgomery  Count}',  Ohio, 
which  at  that  time  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilder- 
ness, the  work  of  progress  and  civilization  having 
been  scarcely  begun.  He  purchased  raw  land,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  good  farm,  making  it  his 
home  until  1865.  That  year  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  Jasper  County,  but  he  was  not  long  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his  deatli  occurring  after 
two  years,  in  March,  1867.  His  wife  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  in  Hidalgo,  111. 


452 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


This  worthy  couple  had  a  family  of  four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  seven  are  yet  living: 
John  D.,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County;  Philip,  who 
was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war  and  died  in  the  service 
of  his  country  in  Washington,  D.  C.;  Uriah,  of  this 
sketch;  Minerva  J.,  wife  of  John  Bowers,  a  farmer 
of  Jasper  County;  William,  of  Colorado;  Maggie, 
wife  of  William  Graves,  a  lawyer  of  Denver,  Colo.; 
Cassie,  wife  of  Dr.  Arthur  Goodwin,  of  Charleston, 
ID.;  and  Loretta,  wife  of  James  Brown,  of  Clark 
County,  111. 

Uriah  Warfcl  grew  to  manhood  in  Ohio  and  spent 
his  youth  upon  the  farm.  His  school  privileges 
were  limited  and  his  education  has  been  mostly  ac- 
quired through  his  own  efforts  since  attaining 
man's  estate.  He  enlisted  for  the  late  war  in  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  and  joined  Company  K,  Seventy-first 
Ohio  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  until  May,  1865, 
when,  the  war  having  ended,  lie  received  his  dis- 
charge at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio.  He  participated 
in  the  engagement  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  the  battles 
of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  was 
wounded  December  16,  receiving  a  gunshot  wound 
in  the  left  thigh,  which  permanently  disabled  him. 
After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
father. 

Soon  after  coming  to  Jasper  County,  Mr.  Warfel 
began  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month, and 
was  thus  employed  several  years.  He  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Cumberland  County,  111.,  April  2, 
1873,  to  Miss  Minerva  Dougherty,  who  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County,  Ohio.  Her  father,  John  A. 
Dougherty,  removed  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  about 
1867,  settling  in  Cumberland  County.  The  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm, 
which  Mr.  Warfel  operated  until  he  had  acquired 
sufficient  capital  to  purchase  land.  In  1876,  he 
bought  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw 
prairie,  which  he  broke  and  fenced,  and  in  cours-e 
of  time-placed  the  entire  amount  under  the  plow, 
so  that  the  once  sterile  tract  was  made  to  bloom 
and  blossom  as  the  rose.  The  boundaries  of  his 
farm  lie  lias  also  extended,  until  it  now  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  laud.  In 
March,  18i)3,  Mr.  Warfel  bought  an  additional  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  30,  ad- 


joining his  home  farm.  He  has  just  completed  a 
large  and  pleasant  residence,  and  has  also  built  good 
barnsand  has  a  thrifty  young  orchard.  In  fact,  all 
the  appointments  of  a  model  farm  may  there  be 
found. 

A  family  of  •  ten  children  has  been  born  unto 
our  subject  and  his  wife,  as  follows:  Henry  Everett, 
a  successful  school  teacher  of  Jasper  County;  Ivan 
Edward,  who  aids  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
home  farm;  Annie  May,  Myrtle,  Anthony  Logan, 
Stella,  Walter  A.,  Harry,  Omer  and  Frankie.  The 
parents  are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  Mr.  Warfel  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
post  of  Newton  and  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit 
Association.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  with  whicli  he  has 
affiliated  since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Grant  in  1868.  Although  he  takes  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs  and  the  success  of  his 
party,  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  The 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend  and 
for  a  number  of  years  he  has  served  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  School  Directors.  A  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  he  manifests  a  commend- 
able interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of 
the  community,  and  ever  bears  his  part  in  promot- 
ing the  enterprises  which  are  calculated  to  prove 
of  public  benefit. 


OR.  HUFFMAN,  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  follows  farming  on  sec- 
,_,  tion  16,  Denver  Township.  He  is  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs  and  ever  aids  his  party  in 
promoting  the  best  interests  of  Rich  laud  County. 
He  was  born  in  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  October  23, 
1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  H.  and  Hannnli 
(Raynes)  Huffman.  His  father  was  born  about 
eleven  miles  from  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  in  1796,  and 
was  there  reared  to  manhood  upon  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving a  limited  education.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter's and  wagonmaker's  trade,  and  in  Virginia 
lie  was  married  March  1,  1831,  to  Hannah,  daugh- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


453 


ter  of  John  and  Lucy  Raynes.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Maine,  and  she  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Pine  Tree  State,  making  her  home  there  until 
twelve  years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huffman  re- 
moved to  Allegany  City,  from  there  to  Ohio,  and 
later  to  Decatur  County,  Ind.,  locating  in  St. 
Omar,  where  he  followed  his  trade.  Subsequently 
lie  spent  three  years  in  Rush  County,  Ind.,  and 
seven  years  in  Shelby  County.  Before  his  mar- 
riage he  had  traveled  in  thirteen  States.  Before 
the  time  of  steamers  lie  would  go  to  New  Orleans 
on  flntboats  and  return  on  foot.  He  was  in  the 
Crescent  City  just  before  the  Tearless  Battle. 

It  was  in  1856  that  Mr.  Huffman  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  lie  died  in  Richland  County  in  1864.  His 
wife  was  born  in  1804,  and  though  she  made  her 
home  with  our  subject  after  her  husband's  death, 
she  died  while  visiting  in  Coles  County,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1880.  They  both  belonged  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  years  and  were  zealous- 
workers  in  its  interests.  In  their  family  were  two 
sons  and  three  daughters:  John,  who  was  born  in 
Allegany  City, and  died  in  infancy;  Lucy  Ann  and 
Julia  Ann  (twins),  both  deceased;  N.  R.,  of  this 
sketch;  and  Elizabeth,  also  deceased. 

Mr.  Huffman  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  the  family.  Until  his  tenth  year 
he  remained  in  St.  Omar.  He  acquired  a  good 
education,  which  he  has  supplemented  through  his 
reading  and  business  experience.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  throughout  their  lives,  caring  for 
them  in  their  last  years.  He  worked  on  the  farm 
and  aided  his  father  in  the  carpenter  shop,  but 
since  lie  has  attained  to  man's  estate  he  has  fol- 
lowed agricultural  pursuits.  He  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  two  acres  of  good  land,  upon  which 
is  a  comfortable  home,  barns  and  outbuildings. 
The  place  is  well  improved  audits  neat  and  thrifty 
appearance  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a  practical 
and  progressive  farmer. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1862,  in  Crawford 
County,  111.,  Mr.  Huffman  married  Margaret  Jane, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Ogden,  of  Ohio. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Rush  County,  Ind., and  with 
her  parents  came  to  this  State.  Ten  children  were 
born  of  their  union,  and  the  family  circle  yet  re- 
mains unbroken  by  the  hand  of  Death.  Sarah  C., 


the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Stacey,  of  Piatt 
County,  111.;  Jacob  S.  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  William  John- 
son, of  Sau n tiers  County,  Neb.;  Una  D., Georgiana, 
Alice,  Hayes,  Dee  O.,  Annetta  and  Cora  complete 
the  family. 

The  parents  and  the  eldest  children  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Huffman 
and  his  wife  take  an  active  part  in  church  work 
and  contribute  liberally  to  its  support.  The  cause 
of  education  also  finds  in  him  a  friend,  and  he 
gives  his  aid  to  all  worthy  enterprises.  With  the 
Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association  he  holds  mem- 
bership. He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Lincoln  and  supported  the  Republican  party  until 
1892,  when  he  voted  for  Gen.  Weaver.  Mr.  Huff- 
man has  made  his  way  in  the  world  unaided. 
When  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  $300  would 
have  bought  all  his  worldly  possessions.  He  has 
met  with  obstacles,  but  by  enterprise  and  a  de- 
termined will  he  has  overcome  the  difficulties  in 
his  path,  and  by  his  methodical  and  systematic 
business  methods  and  straightforward  dealing  he 
has  achieved  a  comfortable  competence  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  well-to  do  citizens  of  Denver 
Township. 


ARTIN  D.  FOSTER,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
medical  practitioner  and  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Foster  &  Watkins,  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  Olney,  has  been  in  continu- 
ous and  successful  practice  in  this  city  since  Oc- 
tober, 1882.  Dr.  Foster  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Edwards  County  on  the 
3d  of  September,  1861.  His  parents,  Blashel  and 
Emeline  C.  (Hauser)  Foster,  were  early  settlers  of 
Edwards  County.  The  father  was  born  in  south- 
ern Indiana  and  the  mother  in  Nortli  Carolina. 
They  came  to  Illinois  in  youth,  were  married  in 
Edwards  County,  and  there  made  their  home  for 
many  years.  In  1888  they  removed  to  a  farm 
near  Salem,  Ore.,  where  they  now  reside.  Mr. 


454 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Foster  is  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  has  followed 
that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life.  He  and 
his  wife  are  consistent  ineml>ers  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  are  highly  respected  citizens  in  the 
community  in  which  they  make  their  home. 

Martin  D.  Foster,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  quietly  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  early  became  familiar  with  the  work 
which  accompanies  such  a  life.  In  the  district 
schools  he  began  his  education,  which  was  later 
supplemented  by  a  course  in  Eureka  College,  a 
school  of  the  Christian  Church,  in  Eureka,  111.  His 
medical  education  was  received  in  the  Eclectic 
Medical  Institute  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '82.  On  secur- 
ing the  degree  of  M.  D.,  he  came  to  Olney  the 
following  October  and  opened  an  oflice.  Since  es- 
tablishing practice  at  this  place  he  has  continued 
it  with  marked  success  up  to  the  present  time, 
covering  a  period  of  eleven  consecutive  years. 

Dr.  Foster  has  been  twice  married.  In  Shelby- 
ville,  111.,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1887,  he  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  Alice,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Igo.  After  a  short  married  life  she  died,  July 
28,  1889.  On  the  27th  of  October,  1891,  Dr.  Fos- 
ter was  married  in  Olney.  The  lady  who  now 
bears  his  name  was  in  her  maidenhood  Lula  B. 
Cliffe.  She  was  born  in  Olney  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of.the  Rev.  William  and  Martha  T.  Cliffe,  who 
were  early  settlers  of  this  place.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  hold  a  high  position  in  social  circles 
and  have  made  many  friends  throughout  the  com- 
munity. 

Dr.  Foster  was  reared  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Lie  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  Democracy.  For  four 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  District  Pension 
Board  under  President  Cleveland's  first  adminis- 
tration, and  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Ec- 
lectic Medical  Society,  of  which  he  is  the  First 
Vice-President.  He  also  belongs  to  the  National 
Eclectic  Medical  Society.  The  Doctor  is  con- 
nected with  several  secret  and  benevolent  socie- 
ties. He  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  belongs  to 
all  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Olney,  and  is  the  pres- 
ent eminent  Commander  of  Gorin  Commandery 
No.  14,  K.  T.;  and  also  is  Illustrious  Potentate 


of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  In  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
fraternity  he  has  attained  to  the  Uniformed  Rank 
and  is  Past  Chancellor  of  his  lodge.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
and  the  Select  Knights  of  America. 

In  June,  1889,  Dr.  Foster  formed  the  existing 
partnership  with  Dr.  II.  T.  Watkins,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Foster  &  Watkins.  The  Doctor  has 
been  eminently  successful  in  his  profession  and  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  thor- 
oughly read  in  medicine  and  surgery,  and  keeps 
well  abreast  of  the  times  in  a  general  knowledge 
of  the  latest  discoveries  in  the  line  of  his  profes- 
sion. He  possesses  quick  perceptive  faculties,  and 
is  rapid  and  correct  in  diagnosis.  Genial  and 
cordial  in  manner,  he  carries  with  him  into  the 
sick  room  a  cheerful,  healthful,  magnetic  influ- 
ence that  in  some  cases  is  more  helpful  than  med- 
icine. 


J "JESSE  P.  STANLEY,  a  prominent  farmer, 
stock  dealer  and  shipper,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Wade  Township,  is  one  of  the  well- 
known  citizens  of  Jasper  County,  and  is 
numbered  among  its  pioneer  settlers,  having  been 
a  resident  of  southern  Illinois  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  A  native  of  Kentucky,  he  was  born  in 
Hardin  County,  April  2,  1836.  His  grandfather, 
Jesse  Stanley,  Sr.,  removed  with  his  family  to  that 
State  at  an  early  da}'.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
II.  B.  Stanley,  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  and 
his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Turner, 
was  also  a  native  of  that  State.  For  a  number  of 
3'ears  Mr.  Stanley  followed  farming  in  Hardin 
County,  and  in  1846  emigrated  to  Richland  Coun- 
ty, III.  This  locality  was  then  in  a  state  of  wild- 
ness,  the  work  of  progress  and  civilization  having 
been  scarcely  begun.  The  father  of  our  subject 
rented  several  hundred  acres  of  land  and  opened 
up  several  good  farms.  He  was  successful  in  his 
business  career,  became  well-to-do  and  was  one  of 
the  prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  Richland 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


455 


County.  He  was  three  times  married  and  became 
the  father  of  twenty-one  children,  seventeen  of 
whom  are  living  at  this  writing.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  the  summer  of  1886.  His  last  wife  sur- 
vives him. 

,]esse  P.  Stanley  was  reared  to  manhood  amid 
the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life  and  was  inured  to 
its  hardships  and  privations.  His  privileges,  edu- 
cational and  otherwise,  were  quite  limited,  but  his 
training  at  farm  labor  was  not  so  meagre,  for  as 
soon  as  old  enough  to  follow  the  plow  he  began 
work  in  the  Gelds.  He  remained  at  home  until 
eighteen  years  of  age  and  then  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in  Rich- 
land  County,  in  his  twentieth  year,  with  Miss  Jane 
Chandler,  a  native  of  Washington  County,  111., 
and  a  daughter  of  Martin  Chandler,  also  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  community.  After  their 
marriage,  whicti  was  celebrated  July  3,  1856,  Mr. 
Stanley  rented  laud  and  began  farming.  When 
he  had  acquired  a  sufficient  capital  he  purchased 
a  small  farm,  which  he  sold  in  1876,  coming  to 
Jasper  County.  At  that  time  he  bought  land  in 
Smallwood  Township,  an  improved  place.  Since 
that  time  he  has  purchased  and  disposed  of  several 
farms.  In  January,  1887,  he  bought  his  present 
home,  comprising  one  hundred  acres  of  rich  land. 
He  has  just  erected  a  commodious  and  substantial 
residence;  lie  has  also  built  good  barns,  other  out- 
buildings, fenced  the  entire  place  and  put  the  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  fact,  the 
place  is  complete  in  all  its  appointments,  and  it  is 
desirably  located,  and  is  one  of  the  best  farms  of 
Wade  Township.  In  addition  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  land  Mr.  Stanley  engages  quite  extensively 
in  stock-dealing.  He  has  purchased  stock  through- 
out all  the  surrounding  counties,  and  during  the 
past  year  has  shipped  one  hundred  and  thirty  car- 
loads. He  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  dealers 
and  shippers  in  Jasper  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley  had  a  family  of  eight 
children.  George  W.  is  married  and  resides  in 
Ottumwa,  Iowa,  where  he  holds  a  responsible  posi- 
tion. Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  George  Q.  Hinds,  a 
fanner  of  Jasper  County.-  Frankie  became  the  wife 
of  Dr.  John  W.  Hankins,  butbuth  she  and  her  hus- 
band are  deceased.  They  left  three  children,  two 


of  whom  reside  with  the  grandparents.  Albert,  a 
marble-cutter,  is  married  and  makes  his  home  in 
Robinson,  111.  Charles  E.  is  at  home.  Laura  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Strole,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County. 
J.  Pearl  aids  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm;  and  Martin  is  attending  school. 

In  politics  Mr.  Stanley  was  formerly  a  Republi- 
can, but  now  votes  with  the  Prohibition  party. 
Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  in  southern 
Illinois,  and  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  through- 
out Jaspor  and  adjoining  counties.  Our  subject 
is  truly  a  self-made  man,  for  he  started  out  in  life 
with  no  capital,  and  by  enterprise  and  industry 
has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward.  He  possesses 
excellent  business  ability,  and  his  career  has  always 
been  characterized  by  honorable  dealings,  while  his 
good  management  and  well-directed  efforts  have 
gained  for  him  a  handsome  property. 


;ILLIAM  PHILLIPS,  a  prosperous  and  rep- 
resentative farmer  of  Claremont  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  31,  is  nunibrri'd 
among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Richland  County, 
dating  his  residence  in  the  community  from  18-10. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Stark  County  July  13,  1836.  His 
father,  David  Phillips,  Sr.,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  when  a  young  man  went  to 
Ohio,  locating  in  Stark  County,  where  he  met  and 
married  Miss  Sarah  Hosier,  a  native  of  that  State. 
Mr.  Phillips  there  engaged  in  farming  and  also 
carried  on  a  wagon  shop  for  several  years.  Think- 
ing to  better  his  financial  condition  by  a  removal 
Westward,  he  came  to  Richland  Count}',  III.,  in 
1840,  and  chose  Claremont  Township  as  the  scene 
of  his  future  labors.  Here  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
forty  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved.  Subse- 
quently he  entered  land  from  the  Government, 
and,  purchasing  more,  opened  up  a  farm  of  more 
than  two  hundred  acres.  He  became  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  substantial  agriculturists  ot  the 


456 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


community  as  the  result  of  his  good  management 
and  well-directed  efforts.  He  reared  his  family 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  his  death  occurred  in  January, 
1872.  His  wife  died  only  a  few  days  previous,  in 
December,  1871. 

William  Phillips,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  four  daughters  who  grew  to  mature  years, 
while  three  sons  and  three  daughters  are  yet  liv- 
ing. He  was  a'  child  of  o.ily  four  years  when 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  spent  his 
youth  upon  the  old  home  farm,  and  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighborhood  acquired  a  good 
English  education.  Under  the  parental  roof  he 
remained  until  after  he  attained  his  majority,  and 
then  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  wholly  unim- 
proved. This  he  cleared  and  fenced,  built  a  log 
cabin  upon  it,  and  devoted  himself  assiduously  to 
its  further  cultivation.  Subsequently  he  purchased 
fort}'  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  together  with 
ten  acres  of  timbcrland,  so  that  he  now  has  ninety 
acres  of  good  land.  The  log  house  has  long  since 
been  replaced  by  a  substantial  frame  residence,  a 
good  barn  has  been  built,  an  orchard  set  out,  and 
other  improvements  made,  which  add  greatly  to 
the  value  of  the  place. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1860,  Mr.  Phillips  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret,  daughter 
of  Philip  Steffey,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
Hichland  County.  She  was  born  in  Stark  Count}', 
Ohio,  and  when  a  little  maiden  of  four  years  came 
with  her  parents  to  Illinois.  The  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children:  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Peter  Garber,  a  farmer 
of  German  Township;  and  John  T.,  at  home. 
They  also  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Elva  Carter, 
who  has  made  her  home  with  them  since  eight 
years  of  age. 

The  parents  hold  membership  with  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  Demo- 
crat, having  supported  that  party  since  he  cast  his 
first  ballot  for  lion.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860. 
He  is  a  friend  to  all  moral,  educational  and  social 
interests,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  fifteen  consecutive  years,  during  which 
time  he  has  done  all  in  his  power  toward  promo- 


ting the  standard  of  the  schools  in  this  commu- 
nity. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  have  spent  al- 
most their  entire  lives  in  Richland  County,  and 
are  widely  and  favorably  known.  He  commenced 
life  for  himself  a  young  man  empty-handed,  but 
as  the  result  of  his  own  labor  and  enterprise  and 
with  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife,  he  has  ac- 
cumulated a  comfortable  competency  and  has  a 
valuable  farm  and  good  home. 


ALEB  UE1NDSELMAN,  who  carries  on  gen- 
eral  farming  on  section  15,  Denver  Town- 
ship,  Richland  County,  was  born  in  the 
county  of  -the  same  name  in  Ohio,  the  date  of 
his  birth  being  December  1 1,  1838.  His  parents 
were  Caleb  and  Catherine  (Threiler)  Hrindselman. 
The  former  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1800, 
and  the  latter  in  Alsace,  France,  in  1797.  In  the 
Fatherland  they  were  married  and  there  two  chil- 
dren were  born  unto  them.  In  1829  they  took 
passage  on  a  sailing-vessel  at  Bremen,  which  at 
length  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York, 
from  which  city  they  made  their  way  to  Richland 
County,  Ohio.  Nine  years  later  they  came  to 
Richland  County,  111.,  and  Mr.  lleindselman  fol- 
lowed his  trade  of  a  potter.  He  died  in  Olney 
Township  in  1875,  and  his  wife  passed  away  the 
following  year.  They  were  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  he  was  a  life-long  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party.  The  Heindselman  family 
numbered  the  following  children:  Catherine,  wife 
of  J.  F.  Schlichmyer,  of  Olney  Township,  Richland 
County;  Jacob,  who  died  in  Kansas;  Dolly,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Elizabeth,  deceased, 
wife  of  Jacob  Gissler;  John,  whose  death  was 
caused  by  entering  an  old  well  full  of  poisonous 
gas;  Caleb,  of  this  sketch;  George,  a  soldier  in  the 
late  war,  who  now  follows  farming  in  Olney 
Township;  Caroline,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen ;  and  Margaret,  wife  of  Henry  Black,  of  Decker 
Township. 

Our  subject  was  only  about  a  year  old  when  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


457 


family  came  to  Illinois.  They  made  the  journey 
by  team,  arriviug  at  their  destination  after  two 
weeks  of  travel.  The  county  was  then  in  its  prim- 
itive condition.  Large  numbers  of  deer  were  seen, 
and  all  kind  of  lesser  game  were  to  be  had  in 
abundance.  -The  nearest  neighbor  was  four  miles 
distant,  and  there  were  no  markets  hi  this  vicin- 
ity. The  family  endured  many  of  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  frontier  life.  Our  subject  re- 
ceived no  educational  privileges,  and  when  very 
young  began  to  aid  in  clearing  the  land.  How- 
ever, there  are  many  pleasant  memories  connected 
with  those  piqneer  days, and  enjoyments  unknown 
except  on  the  frontier  were  indulged  in. 

On  attaining  to  man's  estate,  Mr.  Heindselman 
began  working  as  a  farm  hand  and  was  thus  em- 
ployed for  three  years.  He  enlisted  August  15, 
1862,  in  Olney,  as  a  member  of  Company  G, 
Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Capt.  F.  A. 
John  and  Col.  Funckhauser.  The  regiment  was 
drilled  at  Centralia,  and  while  proceeding  South 
met  with  a  railroad  accident  at  Bridgeport,  111. 
Our  subject  took  part  in  a  skirmish  at  Snow  Hill, 
but  the  tirst  regular  engagement  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated was  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  This 
was  followed  by  the  battles  of  Farmington  and 
Chattanooga,  the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  battles  of 
Kesaca,  Dalton,  Big  Shanty,  Selma  and  Wilson's 
raid.  The  Ni net}'- eighth  Regiment,  noted  for  its 
bravery  and  faithful  service,  lost  heavily,  return- 
ing  with  only  four  hundred  men.  Mr.  Ileindsel- 
inan  remained  with  it  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
serving  as  Corporal  and  acting  as  scout  much  of 
the  time.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge  in 
1865,  and  on  the  7th  of  July  reached  home. 

After  his  return,  our  subject  rented  land  and 
followed  farming  in  Olney  Township  two  years. 
There,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1867,  he  wedded 
Miss  Margaret  E.  Graves,  daughter  of  Leonard 
Graves,  who  came  from  Indiana  to  Richland  Coun- 
ty in  1865.  Me  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  Rexroat.  Mrs. 
Heindselman  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  when  a 
year  old  was  taken  to  Indiana,  whence  she  came  to 
Illinois  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Eight  children 
were  born  of  their  union:  Tycent  L.,  a  blacksmith 
and  machinist;  Arthur,  at  home;  John,  who  isclerk- 

23 


ing  in  Chicago;  Gertie;  Leslie  C.;  Myrtie  Maud; 
Aden  O.  and  L3?man  L.  The  sons  now  operate 
the  farm.  The  children  have  been  well  educated 
and  the  family  is  one  of  which  the  parents  are 
justly  proud. 

Mr.  Heindselman 's  first  purchase  of  land  com- 
prised eighty  acres  in  Olney  Township,  partially 
improved,  upon  which  he  made  his  home  until 
January,  1888,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm.  He  now  owns  two  hundred  and  fifty-four 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  the  county, 
with  all  the  equipments  of  a  model  farm,  a  fine 
residence,  good  outbuildings  and  fifteen  hundred 
fruit  trees.  He  is  also  successfully  engaged  in 
stock-raising.  It  is  no  flattery  to  say  that  our 
subject  is  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent  agri- 
culturists of  the  community.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  Eli  Bowyer  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Olney. 
He  has  long  been  interested  in  schools,  and  the 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend, 
who  does  much  for  its  advancement.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  to  the 
support  of  which  they  contribute  liberally,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  its  upbuilding.  These  well- 
known  and  worthy  people  certainly  deserve  rep- 
resentation in  the  history  of  the  county  which  has 
so  long  been  their  home. 


T  C.  LOUGH,  who  for  many  years 
lias  been  identified  with  the  history  of 
Richland  County,  is  numbered  among  its 
leading  agriculturists,  and  resides  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Denver  Township.  He  was  born  in  Brax- 
ton,  W.  Va.,  November  21,  1820,  and  comes  of 
good  old  Revolutionary  stock.  His  grandfather, 
George  Lough,  served  under  AVashington  through- 
out the  struggle  for  independence.  He  died  in 
Pendleton  County,  W.  Va.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  with  his  mother  and  sister, 
was  made  a  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  and  was  thus 
held  for  eight  years. 

Peter  Lough,  father   of  Robert,  was  born  and 


458 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


reared  in  Pendleton  County,  W.  Va.,  and  in  the 
Old  Dominion  married  Prudence  Gibson,  who  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  In  1839,  he  started  for 
Illinois,  floating  down  the  Ohio  River  on  a  flat- 
boat  to  Cincinnati,  then  going  by  steamboat  to  Mt. 
Vernon,  Ind.,  and  thence  by  team  to  Edwards 
County,  111.,  where  he  arrived  on  the  18th  of  May. 
Four  years  later  he  removed  to  Clay  County,  and 
entered  land  from  the  Government,  upon  which  he 
made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1860,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  His  wife 
then  came  to  live  with  our  subject.  He  tenderly 
cared  for  her  during  her  remaining  days.  Mr. 
Lough  was  a  successful  business  man  and  acquired 
a  good  property.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  life- 
long members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  took  an 
active  part  in  church  work,  and  he  was  for  many 
years  a  local  preacher.  He  was  the  founder  of  the 
Sal<>ni  Church  in  Edwards  County,  and  also  took 
part  in  establishing  a  church  in  this  locality.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  in  1860  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln. 

With  the  exception  of  one  who  died  in  infancy, 
tlie  fifteen  children  of  the  Lough  family  grew  to 
mature  years.  They  are  Mrs.  Juliet  Rice,  of  Kan- 
sas; Mrs.  Temperance  Hocking,  of  Bone  Gap,  111.; 
Mrs.  Louisa  Michaels,  deceased;  Charles,  a  farmer 
of  Kansas;  Nicholas,  a  farmer  of  Belleville,  111.; 
Mrs.  Lydia  Phillips,  deceased;  John,  who  was  in 
the  Twenty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  with 
Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased; Peter  M.,  who  was  a  member  of  the  same 
regiment,  and  is  now  living  in  Clay  County;  La- 
verna,  wife  of  S.  T.  Ulm,  of  Oregon;  Martha  Ann, 
deceased,  wife  of  Addison  Dalzell;  Mary,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Mr.  Ireland,  and  died  in  Kansas; 
George,  who  was  also  one  of  the  boys  in  blue,  and 
is  now  living  in  Kansas;  and  Mrs.  Prudence 
Adams,  deceased. 

Mr.  Lough,  our  subject,  was  nineteen  3rears  of 
age  when  life  family  left  Virginia.  His  educa- 
tional advantages  were  meagre,  but  he  received 
unlimited  training  in  farm  labor.  On  attaining 
to  man's  estate,  he  left  home  to  earn  his  own  live- 
lihood, and  was  married  in  Edwards  County,  III., 
to  Mary  Ann  Courtrecht,  daughter  of  John  C.  and 
Mary  (Burriss)  Courtrecht.  Her  father  was  a  na- 


tive of  New  York,  and  came  of  an  old  Holland 
family.  Mrs.  Lough  was  born  in  Edwards  County, 
and  proved  to  her  husband  a  true  helpmate.  They 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm,  and 
in  January,  1845,  our  subject  secured  a  squatter's 
claim  in  Richland  County,  for  which  lie  traded 
two  three-year-old  colts,  two  yoke  of  oxen,  a 
wagon  and  harness,  and  two  log  chains.  When  he 
came  into  possession  of  his  present  farm,  compris- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  it  was 
covered  with  tall  prairie  grass,  and  was  entirely 
unimproved.  He  turned  the  first  furrow  upon  it, 
and  in  course  of  time  plowed  and  planted  it  all. 
His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin  with  a  puncheon 
floor.  He  had  considerable  trouble  in  getting  help 
in  raising  his  cabin,  because  he  would  not  furnish 
whisky,  being  a  man  of  strong  temperance  prin- 
ciples. His,  however,  has  been  a  prosperous  career, 
and  at  one  time  he  owned  six  hundred  acres  of 
land,  but  he  has  since  sold  four  hundred  acres. 

In  1868,  Mrs.  Lough  died,  and  Mr.  Lough  af- 
terward married  Jennie  Bradshaw,  a  native  of 
Wayne  County,  111.  The  children  born  of  the  first 
marriage  are  Benjamin  P.,  who  was  a  member  of 
the  Fifth  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  died  near  Vicksburg 
during  the  service;  Samantha,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years;  Mattie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
James  H.  Delzell,  and  died  leaving  two  children; 
Norman  A.,  who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  in  Lebanon,  111.,  then  studied  law  with  Judge 
Hay  wood,  of  Olney,  married  Allie  Conklin,  and  is 
now  practicing  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Lough  now  superintends  the  management 
of  his  farm,  but  is  practically  living  a  retired  life. 
For  almost  half  a  century  he  has  resided  in  this 
county,  and  his  history  is  inseparably  connecter 
with  that  of  the  communit}'.  He  has  always  given 
his  support  to  those  enterprises  calculated  to  prove 
of  public  benefit,  and  has  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Assessor.  Socially,  he  is  a  Royal  ArHi 
Mason,  belonging  to  the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter 
of  Olney.  He  and  his  wife  are  faithful  and  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  Trustee.  For  the 
past  fort}'  years  he  has  been  either  Class-leader  or 
Steward.  This  worthy  couple  are  earnest  workers 
in  the  Master's  vineyard,  and  their  lives,  so  well 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


459 


and  worthily  spent,  are  in  harmony  with  their 
professions.  Mr.  Lough  is  a  man  of  strong  con- 
victions, and  when  lie  believes  himself  to  be  in 
the  right  neither  fear  nor  favor  can  alter  his 
course. 


J'lOSIAH  WILLIS  BLANCHARD,  deceased, 
was  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Richland 
I  County,  and  the  record  of  his  life  well  de- 
'  serves  a  place  in  this  volume.  He  was  born 

in  this  county  December  1,  1844,  and  died  on  the 
old  home  farm  November  12,  1892.  His  father, 
Henry  Blanchard,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
in  his  childhood  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father, 
Willis  Blanchard,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
the  community.  He  early  grew  to  manhood  and 
was  three  times  married,  his  first  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Martha  Bunch,  being  the  mother 
of  our  subject.  Henry  Blanchard  opened  up  a 
farm  in  Claremont  Township  and  there  reared  his 
family. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  and  youth  of  Josiah  Blanchard, who 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  upon  his 
father's  farm.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  remained  at  home  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  On  the  15th  of  March,  1877,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Antoinette  Veech,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Veech,  who  was  one  of  the 
earl}'  settlers  of  Illinois.  Leaving  his  home  in 
Kentucky,  he  removed  to  Coles  County,  where  he 
developed  a  farm.  A  few  years  later  he  located 
in  Mattoon,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days. 
Mrs.  Blanchard  was  reared  and  educated  in  Coles 
Count}-  and  in  Mattoon.  She  attended  the  Mat- 
toon  High  School,  and  was  also  a  student  at  Olney 
for  one  term.  For  several  years  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage, she  was  a  successful  teacher  in  Richland 
County. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  part  of  the  old  home  farm,  and  through- 
out his  business  career  he  followed  agricultural 


pursuits.  He  was  successful  in  his  undertakings 
and  became  the  owner  of  four  hundred  acres  of 
arable  land,  one  hundred  and  sixty  of  which  con- 
stituted the  farm  on  which  he  resided.  It  was  all 
fenced  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  It 
had  good  improvements  upon  it,  and  the  neat  ap- 
pearance of  the  place  indicated  the  thrift  and  en- 
terprise of  the  owner.  In  all  his  business  deal- 
ings Mr.  Blanchard  was  upright  and  honorable, 
and  to  that  fact,  as  well  as  to  his  industry  and  en- 
terprise, he  owed  his  splendid  success. 

In  politics,  our  subject  was  a  stanch  Republican 
but  never  an  office-seeker.  He  gave  his  support 
to  all  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit,  and  was  a  highly-respected  citizen  of  his 
native  count}'.  A  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
strict  integrity,  he  had  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  all  who  knew  him,  and  died  truly  mourned  by 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  He 
passed  away  November  12,  1892. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blanchard  had  two  children: 
Henry  Alexander,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of 
the  home  farm;  and  Sarah  Kveline.  They  also 
lost  a  daughter,  Levina  Pearl,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen  months,  in  1890.  Since  her  hus- 
band's death,  Mrs.  Blanchard  has  managed  the 
home  farm  with  the  assistance  of  her  son.  She  is 
a  lady  of  good  executive  ability  and  has  many 
warm  friends.  She  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church 
of  Eureka. 


;ILLIAM  HARRISON  BROOKS,  who  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  on  section  7, 
Crooked  Creek  Township,  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Jasper  County 
of  1843,  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his  nativ- 
ity. He  was  born  in  Rush  County,  on  the  16th  of 
January,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Patience 
(Spencer)  Brooks.  His  father  was  born  in  Mary- 
land but  was  reared  in  the  Buckeye  State,  and  after 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  there  married 
Miss  Spencer,  a  native  of  New  York.  Subsequently 


460 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


they  removed  to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  and  a  few 
years  later,  in  the  spring  of  1843,  came  to  Jasper 
County,  111.  Here  Mr.  Brooks  made  a  claim  of 
Government  land  and  from  the  raw  prairie  devel- 
oped a  farm,  upon  which  he  reared  his  family  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  leading 
agriculturist  of  the  community  aud  a  highly-re- 
spected citizen.  His  death  occurred  February  23, 
1877.  His  wife  had  been  called  to  her  final  home 
several  years  previous. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  was  only  two  years  old  when  his  pa- 
rents came  to  Jasper  County.  Upon  the  old  home- 
stead farm  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  passed,  while  in  the  common  schools  of  his 
neighborhood  he  acquired  a  good  education  in 
the  English  branches.  The  occupation  to  which 
he  was  reared  he  has  followed  as  a  life  work. 
Dm  ing  the  late  war.  however,  he  left  home  to  en- 
ter the  service  of  his  country.  He  enlisted  in 
May,  1864.  for  one  hundred  days  and  joined  Com- 
pany I,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Illinois  In- 
fantry, with  which  he  remained  until  discharged 
in  the  following  September.  He  went  with  his 
regiment  to  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  Arkansas, 
and  participated  in  a  number  of  skirmishes. 

After  being  mustered  out,  Mr.  Brooks  returned 
to  Jasper  County,  and  the  following  year  operated 
the  home  farm.  In  October,  1865,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Angeline  Conner,  a 
native  of  Rush  County,  Ind.  She  has,  however, 
resided  in  this  county  since  her  early  childoood. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  our  subject  has 
since  engaged  in  fanning  in  his  own  interest.  He 
now  owns  one  hundred  acres  of  good,  arable  land, 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  which  in  consequence  yields  to  him  a 
golden  tribute.  It  is  also  improved  with  good 
buildings,  and  its  neat  appearance  indicates  the 
enterprise  of  the  owner. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Brooks  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  4th  of  May, 
leaving  three  children:  Sarah,  now  the  wife  of 
Oliver  Dougherty,  of  Jasper  County;  John  and 
Isaac  D.,  at  home.  On  the  20th  of  October,  1884, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Brooks  and 


Miss  Jerusha  Ellen  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Rush 
County,  Ind.,  but  spent  her  girlhood  days  in  Clay 
and  Jasper  Counties,  111.  Three  children  grace 
this  union,  William,  Everett  and  Elza. 

Mr.  Brooks  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  his  wife  holds  membership  with  the  Baptist 
Church.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
Republican  principles,  having  advocated  its  meas- 
ures since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Rose  Hill 
Grand  Army  Post.  Almost  his  entire  life  has  he 
passed  in  Jasper  County,  and  has  helped  to  make 
it  what  it  is  to-day.  He  is  a  well-known  citizen 
and  is  considered  as  a  man  of  upright  character 
and  sterling  worth. 


OSEPH  SHOEMAKER,  one  of  the  honored 
veterans  of  the  late  war,  is  now  numbered 
among  the  prominent  citizens  of  South 
Muddy  Township,  Jasper  County.  He  re- 
sides on  section  33,  and  carries  on  agricultural 
pursuits  and  stock-raising.  His  farm  comprises 
two  hundred  acres  of  rich  laud,  and  its  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  and  the  many  improvements 
upon  the  place  indicate  the  enterprise  and  pro- 
gressive spirit  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  the  Buckeye  State  has  furnished  to  this  county. 
He  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Ohio,  in  April, 
1831,  and  is  of  German  descent  on  the  father's 
side,  and  of  Irish  lineage  on  the  mother's  side. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Burnsides)  Shoe- 
maker, the  former  a  native  of  Maryland  and  the 
latter  of  Virginia.  They  had  eight  children:  Jacob 
S.,  John  B.,  Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Catherine,  Susan, 
Elizabeth  and  Jane.  All  are  yet  living,  are  mar- 
ried and  are  now  heads  of  families.  John  Shoe- 
maker, the  father,  died  in  September,  1890,  and 
the  mother  passed  away  a  little  later. 

The  history  of  any  farmer's  son  is  parallel  to  the 
boyhood  of  our  subject  in  its  outlines,  though,  of 
course,  differing  somewhat  as  to  details.  He  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


461 


reared  upon  the  farm,  and  during  about  three 
months  of  the  year  lie  pursued  his  studies  in  a 
district  school,  to  which  he  had  to  walk  a  distance 
of  three  miles.  On  attaining  his  majority  he  be- 
gan operating  a  part  of  the  old  homestead  and 
carried  on  that  work  until  July  5,  1863,  when  he 
abandoned  the  plow  for  the  musket  and  the  sol- 
dier's garb.  As  a  private  of  Company  H,  First 
Ohio  Heavy  Artillery,  he  was  mustered  into  ser- 
vice at  Covington,  Ky.,  from  where  he  was  sent 
to  Camp  Nelson  and  on  to  Knoxville.  His  regi- 
ment was  principally  engaged  in  guarding  rail- 
roads, towns,  bridges  and  other  Government  prop- 
erty, and  they  also  took  part  in  a  number  of  small 
engagements.  In  1865  our  subject  received  an 
honorable  discharge  at  Camp  Dennison,  Ohio,  for 
the  war  was  drawing  to  a  close  and  his  services 
were  no  longer  needed.  Although  he  did  not  take 
part  in  as  many  battles  as  some  others,  his  service 
was  an  arduous  one  and  to  it  he  was  ever  faith- 
ful. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Ohio,  Mr.  Shoemaker 
operated  the  old  farm  until  1871,  when  he  de- 
termined to  change  his  place  of  abode  to  Jasper 
County.  Purchasing  eighty  acres  of  timberland 
on  section  33,  South  Muddj'  Township,  he  located 
upon  a  farm  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  erected 
the  residence  upon  it,  built  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings, and  has  made  all  the  necessary  improve- 
ments which  go  to  make  up  a  model  farm. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Shoe- 
maker was  in  her  maidenhood  Margaret  S.  Hor- 
ton.  The  wedding  ceremony  was  performed  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1856,  and  eleven  children  blessed  their 
union,  eight  of  whom  are  living:  Sophia,  Sarah, 
Mary,  Grant,  Jimmie,  John,  Ada  and  Josephine. 
Oscar,  the  eldest,  Fremont,  the  third  child,  and 
Joseph,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Shoemaker  is  a  prominent  and  influential 
citizen  of  this  community,  and  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen  he  has  been  three  times  called  upon  to 
serve  in  the  position  of  Road  Commissioner.  He  has 
also  been  School  Director  for  many  years,  and  the 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  Of 
the  Republican  party  he  has  been  a  stalwart  sup- 
porter since  its  organization.  With  the  Grand 


Army  of  the  Republic  he  holds  membership.  We 
see  in  Mr.  Shoemaker  a  self-made  man,  who  by  his 
own  efforts  has  achieved  the  success  of  his  life. 
His  industry  and  good  management  have  gained 
for  him  a  comfortable  competence  and  made  him 
one  of  Jasper  County's  substantial  farmers.  His 
life  has  been  well  and  worthil}'  spent  and  his  hon- 
orable career  is  deserving  of  emulation. 


£=•1  <:  1  _>  r 


BALMER,  who  owns  and  op- 
erales  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  6.  Claremont  Township, 
four  miles  east  of  Olney,  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  prosperous  agriculturists  of 
Richland  County.  He  has  here  made  his  home 
for  twenty-seven  years,  and  is  well  known.  He 
was  born  in  Switzerland,  July  28,  1839.  His  fa- 
ther, Frederick  Balmer,  Sr.,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  same  countjr,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and 
married.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  and  fol- 
lowed that  business  in  his  native  land.  In  1859 
he  bade  adieu  to  his  old  home,  and  taking  passage 
on  a  sailing-vessel  at  Havre,  France,  on  the  1st  of 
November,  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic,  arriving  in 
New  York  harbor  on  the  2d  of  December.  He  at 
once  made  his  way  Westward  to  Indiana,  locating 
in  Greene  County,  where  he  bought  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  seven  years.  In  1864  he 
sold  out,  and  the  following  year  came  to  Richland 
County,  111.,  where  he  purchased  an  improved 
farm,  the  same  upon  which  our  subject  now  re- 
sides. He  here  spent  his  last  years,  and  departed 
this  life  on  the  9th  of  December,  1871.  His  wife, 
having  survived  him  for  many  years,  passed  awny 
November  3,  1890,  and  was  laid  by  his  side  in  the 
Lutheran  Cemetery,  of  Olney  Township,  where  a 
substantial  monument  marks  his  last  resting-place. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  of  a  f;mi- 
ily  of  four  sons  and  four  daughters  who  grew  to 
mature  years.  Elizabeth,  the  next  in  order  of 
birth,  is  the  wife  of  Pete  Hostetter,  of  Kichl.-uid 
County;  Margaret  became  the  wife  of  Peter  Mover, 


462 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  both  are  now  deceased;  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Schlitt.  of  Olney;  John  is  a  merchant  of 
Sninner,  111.;  Peter  operates  a  farm  adjoining  that 
of  our  subject;  Henry  died  in  1874;  and  Mattie  is 
the  wife  of  Cliff  Bailey,  of  La  Fayette,  Ind. 

Until  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  Frederick 
Balmer  remained  in  Switzerland,  and  enjoyed  fair 
school  privileges,  but  in  the  English  tongue  he  is 
almost  wholly  self-educated.  Emigrating  to  the 
United  States,  he  joined  his  father  in  Richland 
County  in  1865,  and  aided  him  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  farm  until  the  death  of  the  latter, 
since  which  time  our  subject  has  carried  it  on 
alone.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey,  he  chose  Miss  Sophia  Schwab.  The  lady 
is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  remained  in  that  coun- 
try until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  she  came  to 
America  with  her  father,  Carl  Schwab,  who  located 
in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  was  celebrated  on  the  18th  of 
November,  1868.  Unto  them  were  born  five  chil- 
dren: Carl,  who  is  employed  in  the  railroad  shops 
in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  Elizabeth, at  home;  William 
Tell,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the  farm;  Bertha 
and  Otto.  They  also  lost  one  son,  Oscar,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Balmer  located  on  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead  which  he  had  purchased 
of  his  father.  Subsequently  he  became  owner  of 
the  whole  farm,  buying  the  interest  of  the  other 
heirs,  and  his  tract  of  valuable  land  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  is  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
this  locality.  He  has  built  upon  it  a  large  barn,  a 
substantial  residence,  and  all  the  improvements 
found  upon  a  model  farm,  and  the  place  is  neat 
and  thrifty  in  appearance,  indicating  the  careful 
supervision  of  the  owner.  We  see  that  Mr.  Balmer 
deserves  great  credit  for  his  success  in  life,  for  he 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world 
empty-handed,  and  unaided  has  worked  his  way 
upward  to  a  position  among  the  substantial  fann- 
ers of  Richland  County. 

Our  subject  is  an  advocate  of  Democratic  prin- 
ciples, and  votes  with  that  party  on  all  questions 
of  State  and  National  importance,  but  at  local 
elections  he  votes  independently,  supporting  the 
man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to  fill  the 


office.  He  has  been  honored  with  several  posi- 
tions of  public  trust,  including  that  of  Commis- 
sioner of  Public  Highways,  in  which  he  served  two 
terms.  He  has  also  been  School  Director  and 
School  Trustee  for  a  number  of  3'ears,  and  has 
done  effective  service  toward  advancing  the  stand- 
ard of  schools  in  this  locality.  During  his  long 
residence  in  Richland  County,  he  has  become 
widely  known  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
strict  integrity,  and  he  and  his  wife  have  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  they  have  been 
brought  in  contact. 


,EORGE  BUTLER,  a  well-known  and  highly 
respected  farmer  of  German  Township, 
Richland  County,  living  on  section  34,  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  August  9,  1844.  He  comes 
of  an  old  family  of  Maryland.  His  grandfath- 
er, Amon  Butler,  was  born  in  that  State,  and 
thence  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Muskingum 
County  when  it  was  a  vast  wilderness.  Samuel 
Butler,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Mus- 
kingum Count}',  February  14, 1825,  and  was  reared 
amid  the  wild  scenes  of  the  frontier.  He  married 
Nancy  Baker,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  Baker.  For  several  years  afterwards  he  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  in  1842,  accompanied  by 
his  father-in-law,  he  emigrated  Westward  to  what 
is  now  Riehland  County.  Here  he  entered  land, 
the  same  upon  which  his  son  George  now  resides. 
He  bought  out  a  pre-emption  right  with  some  four 
acres  cleared,  fenced  the  place  and  opened  up  an 
excellent  farm,  upon  which  he  reared  his  family 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Elis  death 
occurred  November  11,  1881.  His  wife,  who  passed 
away  many  years  previous,  died  in  November, 
1860,  and  both  lie  buried  in  the  Ryan  Cemetery. 

The  Butler  family  numbered  eleven  children,  of 
whom  six  sons  and  four  daughters  grew  to  mature 
years.  With  the  exception  of  one  brother,  all  are 
now  married.  Jemima,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


Danforth  Richards,  of  West  Liberty,  Jasper  County ; 
Amon  resides  in  Clayton,  Kan.;  John,  a  soldier  of 
the  late  war,  laid  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his 
country,  being  killed  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg; 
George  is  the  next  younger;  Joseph  is  living  in 
Clayton  County,  Kan.;  Benjamin  makes  his  home 
in  Beloit,  Kan.;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  F.  Boles,  of 
Coles  County,  111.;  Henry  is  located  in  West  Lib- 
erty, 111.;  Emeline  is  the  wife  of  Sam  Neeper,  of 
Clayton  County,  Kan.;  Samuel  is  a  resident  of  Say- 
lor  Springs,  111.;  and  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  William 
Brown  field,  of  Crawford  County,  111.  All  of  the 
six  brothers  were  numbered  among  the  boys  in 
blue,  and  four  of  them  served  throughout  the  en- 
tire war.  Certainly  the  spirit  of  bravery  and  self- 
sacrifice  is  not  wanting  in  the  Butler  family. 

Our  subject  enlisted  in  July,  1861,  as  a  member 
of  Company  E,  Eleventh  Missouri  Infantry,  and 
followed  the  Old  Flag  until  it  supplanted  the  stars 
and  bars  of  the  South.  He  participated  in  all  the 
engagements  of  his  regiment,  including  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  New  Madrid,  Shiloh,  luka,  Cor- 
inth, Ft.  Gibson,  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  dur- 
ing which  he  was  struck  in  the  side  by  a  shell  and 
four  of  his  ribs  were  broken.  He  was  then  taken 
to  the  camp  hospital,  but  as  sown  as  possible  he  re- 
joined his  command  and  took  part  in  the  battles  of 
Jackson,  Nashville,  Ft.  Blakely  and  many  other 
engagements.  Ever  faithful  to  his  post  and  prompt 
in  carrying  out  his  duty,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  St.  Louis  in  January,  1866. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Butler  at  once  re- 
turned to  the  old  home  farm  and  aided  in  its  op- 
eration. He  was  united  in  marriage  March  2, 
1869,  to  Beulah,  daughter  of  Hice  and  Sophia 
Btirnell.  The  lady  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
county.  Three  children  graced  their  union:  Ber- 
tha, now  the  wife  of  Harvey  Stoltz,  a  farmer  of 
Richland  County;  Burton,  who  aids  in  carrying  on 
the  home  farm;  and  Benjamin,  who  completes  the 
family. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Butler  located  on  a  tract 
of  land  on  section  33,  German  Township,  and 
transformed  the  raw  prairie  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields,  making  a  good  home.  He  there  lived  for 
twelve  years.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he 
sold  that  place,  and,  purchasing  the  interest  of  the 


other  heirs,  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  old 
homestead.  He  has  since  built  upon  it  a  pleasant 
residence  and  a  substantial  barn,  and  added  other 
improvements  which  increase  the  value  and  at- 
tractive appearance  of  the  place.  His  attention  is 
largely  given  to  his  business  interests,  yet  he  finds 
time  to  faithfully  devote  to  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship, and  all  worthy  enterprises  find  in  him  a 
friend.  He  has  ably  served  for  twenty  years  on 
the  School  Board.  In  1864,  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has  since 
been  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles.  He 
holds  membership  with  the  Olney  Grand  Army 
Post,  and  his  wife  and  daughter  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Butler  is  an 
honored  veteran  of  the  late  war,  a  man  true  and 
tried  in  days  of  peace  as  well  as  in  days  of  storm, 
and  in  the  community  where  he  lives  he  has  the 
high  lespect  and  warm  regard  of  all  who  know 
him. 


>1LLIAM  E.  BOLEY,  who  since  the  fall  of 
1855  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  upbuilding  of  Richland  County,  now 
carries  on  farming  on  section  29,  Clarcmont  Town- 
ship. He  claims  Virginia  as  the  State  of  his  birth, 
which  occurred  on  the  1st  of  June,  1848.  His  par- 
ents, William  B.  and  Nancy  Ann  (Hack worth) 
Boley,  were  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
The  father  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1853,  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  seven  years, 
he  left  his  old  home  and  with  his  family  emigrated 
Westward,  his  destination  being  Richland  County, 
III.  He  located  in  Claremont  Township,  and  es- 
tablished a  tannery,  which  he  carried  on  for  several 
years.  He  also  bought  prairie  land  and  opened  up 
a  farm,  which  he  cultivated  for  ten  or  twelve  years, 
when  he  traded  this  farm  property  for  two  hun- 
dred and  foil}-  acres  of  the  old  Bunn  farm  in  Bon- 
pas  Township,  and  engaged  in  its  cultiration  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  lie  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond  April  7.  1888.  His  wife  still  survives  him 


464 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  her  seventy-five  years  have  left  comparatively 
hut  slight  impression  upon  her,  her  physical  and 
mental  faculties  being  still  but  slightly  impaired. 
The  family  of  this  wortli3'  couple  numbered  eight 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living.  Elias,  who 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry, 
died  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  1861;  Mari- 
etta is  the  wife  of  John  Lucas,  of  this  county; 
Nancy  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Isaac  Harmon;  Will- 
iam is  the  next  younger;  John  is  an  agriculturist 
of  Ricbland  County;  Harriet  is  the  deceased  wife 
of  Eugene  Mattoon;  and  George  and  Edward  are 
both  farmers  of  this  community. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  in  his  youth  had  fair  school  privileges 
and  obtained  a  good  education.  He  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  to 
man's  estate  and  aided  in  carrying  on  the  farm. 
He  was  married  in  this  county,  Januar}-  28,  1872, 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  K.  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  is  a  daughter  of  S.  S.  Jones,  who  came 
from  North  Carolina  to  this  State  in  an  early  day. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
a  rented  faim,  which  Mr.  Boley  operated  for  a 
year,  and  then  removed  to  a  farm  which  he  had 
previously  purchased,  comprising  forty  acres  of 
raw  land.  This  was  a  part  of  the  first  farm  opened 
up  in  Bonpas  Township.  He  placed  it  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  made  many  improve- 
ments upon  it,  and  in  1875  traded  it  for  sixty 
acres  of  land,  a  part  of  his  present  farm.  How- 
ever, he  has  since  purchased  an  additional  thirty 
acres,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  ninety  acres  is 
now  within  rich  and  fertile  fields.  He  also  owns 
a  tract  of  fifty  acres  elsewhere,  fenced  and  cul- 
tivated. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boley  have  been  born  seven 
children,  but  Lora,  the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Hamer,  Estella  E.,  Raymond,  Eddie 
and  Ross  are  still  with  their  parents.  Ralph,  the 
twin  brother  of  Ross,  died  when  three  months  of 
age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boley  hold  membership  with 
the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  he  serves  as 
Trustee,  and  take  quite  an  active  part  in  church 
work.  Our  subject  was  formerly  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  but  now  supports  the  People's  party.  In 
the  community  where  he  has  so  long  made  his 


home,  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance.  He  has  lived 
a  straightforward,  upright  life  and  has  thus  gained 
the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  business  or  social  rela- 
tions have  brought  him  in  contact. 


PRANK  J.  SCIIACKMANN  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  Jasper  County,  and  is 
now  numbered  among  its  representative 
farmers.  He  resides  on  section  33,  Wade  Town- 
ship, and  was  born  upon  that  farm  on  the  9th  of 
February,  1845.  He  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary 
(Bower)  Schackmann,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Prussia.  The  father,  was  a  stone-cutter  b}'  trade. 
Determining  to  seek  a  home  in  the  New  World,  lie 
left  his  native  land,  and  on  the  7th  of  April,  1836, 
the  vessel  in  which  he  took  passage  sailed  from  the 
port  of  Havre.  It  was  nearly  four  months  before 
it  reached  its  destination,  but  at  length,  on  the 
19th  of  August,  it  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York.  Mr.  Schjickmann  worked  at  his  trade 
in  the  Eastern  and  Southern  States  for  about  five 
years,  and  in  1841  came  to  Jasper  County,  111., 
where  he  entered  land  and  opened  up  the  farm  on 
which  his  son  Frank  J.  now  resides.  He  died  April 
7,  1874,  just  thirty-eight  years  after  he  set  sail  for 
America.  His  wife  passed  away  December  22, 
1857. 

Frank  Schackmann  is  the  youngest  of  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  survivors  of  a  family  of  eight 
children.  John  is  a  substantial  farmer  of  Jasper 
County,  and  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
Mary,  widow  of  Edward  Richardson,  is  living  in 
Willow  Hill  Township,  Jasper  County.  Our  subject 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  the 
old  homestead  farm.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools,  which  he  attended  only  a 
short  time.  As  soon  as  old  enough,  he  began  work 
in  the  fields,  and  from  that  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  majority  and 
then  operated  a  part  of  the  home  farm.  After 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


465 


his  father's  death  lie  purchased  a  portion  of  the 
old  homestead  and  now  owns  the  greater  part  of 
it.  lie  has  also  bought  other  lands,  and  his  pos- 
sessions now  aggregate  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  of  which  two  hundred  acres  are  fenced  and 
highly  improved.  On  his  home  farm  he  has  a 
comfortable  residence  and  good  barns  and  out- 
buildings, an  orchard  and  all  the  other  accessories 
of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Mr.  Schackmann  was  married  in  Jasper  County, 
April  21, 1868,  to  Elizabeth  Brier,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  a  daughter  of  Gerhard  Brier,  who  died  when 
Mrs.  Schackmann  was  only  three  years  old.  The 
mother  is  still  living  and  now  resides  with  her 
daughter  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  five  children,  but 
two  died  in  early  childhood.  The  others  are  Mary 
Elizabeth,  John  Edward  and  Mar}'  Anna. 

Mr.  Schackmann  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Newton  Catholic  Church.  For-  nine  years  he 
has  faithfully  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board,  and  the  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend.  Since  casting  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Hon.  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  he  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Democratic  party  and  is  one  of  its 
warm  advocates.  He  was  elected  and  served  as 
Highway  Commissioner  of  Wade  Township,  but 
has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  energies  to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a 
well-known  citizen,  public-spirited  and  progressive, 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  record 
of  bis  life  to  our  readers. 


I'LLIVAN  C.  McCAULEY,  a  well-known 
general  farmer  and  stock-dealer  of  Richland 
County,  residing  on  section  29,  Decker 
Township,  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  two 
miles  south  of  Noble,  January  29,  1849.  His 
grandfather,  Joshua  G.  McCauley,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  but  removed  to  Kentucky  and  there  fol- 
lowed farming  throughout  his  entire  life.  Daniel 


McCauley,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Jefferson  County,  Ky.,  November  5,  1802.  He 
was  a  farmer,  school  teacher  and  lawyer,  but  gave 
his  attention  principally  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1836,  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Richland 
County,  which  was  then  an  almost  unbroken  wil- 
derness. In  what  is  now  Decker  Township  he 
purchased  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
and  in  connection  with  its  cultivation  also  fol- 
lowed school  teaching.  He  was  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  this  locality  and  always  bore  his 
part  in  the  work  of  upbuilding  the  best  interests 
of  the  communit_y.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  County  Commissioner,  School  Treasurer, 
School  Director,  etc.  He  died  April  9,  1886,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Mrs.  McCauley 
still  survives  her  husband  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  sons,  William  J.  and  Sullivan  C.  She 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  1812,  and  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Mary  Ann  Jeffery.  She  holds 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Her  father,  William  Jeffery,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  probably  was  of  English  descent.  He 
was  a  harness-maker  and  saddler  most  of  his  life, 
but  spent  some  years  at  sea.  In  1818,  he  removed 
to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  there  died  in  1848,  at  an 
advanced  age.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812. 

In  the  McCauley  family  were  eight  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Mary  Jane,  now  deceased;  Napoleon  L., 
William  J.,  Edward  J.  (deceased),  Thomas  J.;  Syl- 
vester J.,  who  has  also  passed  away;  Richard  N., 
Sarah  A.,  Sullivan  C.,  and  Daniel  W.,  deceased. 

The  work  of  operating  and  developing  the  Mc- 
Cauley farm  was  carried  on  by  the  two  brothers, 
William  and  Sullivan,  who  were  reared  on  the  old 
homestead,  the  former  having  there  lived  fifty-six 
years,  and  the  latter  forty-four  years.  They  were 
educated  in  the  district  schools  and  William  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  a  time.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  he  enlisted  August  11,  1862,  as  n  mem- 
ber of  Company  II,  of  the  Ninety -eighth  Illinois 
Regiment,  which  was  afterwards  mounted  and  was 
known  as  Wilder's  Brigade.  He  served  until 
March  3,  1863,  when,  on  account  of  disability,  he 
was  honorably  discharged. 

William   McCauley   then    returned  to  the  farm 


466 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  has  since  devoted  his  energies  to  its  improve- 
ment. In  March,  1873,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Polly  Ann  Taylor,  daughter  of  John  Taylor, 
of  Richland  County,  but  his  wife  lived  only  three 
months.  In  political  sentiment  the  brothers  are 
both  Republicans,  and  socially  William  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Noble  Post  No.  252,  G.  A.  R.,  while  Sulli- 
van holds  membership  with  Noble  Lodge  No.  482, 
I.  O.  O.  F. 

The  McCauley  brothers  have  devoted  their  en- 
tire lives  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  are  ranked 
among  the  leading  farmers  of  the  county.  The 
elder  brother  now  controls  two  hundred  acres  of 
the  homestead  farm,  and  the  younger  one  hundred 
and  sixty.  They  are  both  men  of  good  business 
ability,  and  their  close  attention  to  business  and 
well-directed  efforts  have  gained  for  them  a  com- 
fortable competence.  The  McCauley  homestead 
is  one  of  the  best  in  this  locality. 


170    - 


OICIIOLAS  MICHL,  who  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  land 
-v«-^  on  section  28,  Wade  Township,  is  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  prosperous  farmers  of  Jasper 
County,  and  is  numbered  among  its  honored 
pioneers,  he  dating  his  residence  here  from  the 
autumn  of  1847.  As  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known,  we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life 
will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  A 
native  of  Germany,  he  was  born  in  Bavaria,  De- 
cember 6,  1830.  His  father,  John  Michl,  and  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Catherine  Gis- 
beck,  were  also  natives  of  Bavaria.  The  former, 
while  emigrating  with  his  family  to  the  New 
World,  died  ere  reaching  his  destination.  He  was 
taken  sick  and  passed  away  on  the  Erie  Canal, 
while  en  route  for  the  West.  His  widow  came  on 
to  Illinois,  joining  her  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Nicholas  Michl  spent  the  first  sixteen  years  of 
his  life  in  the  Fatherland,  and  acquired  a  good 
education.  He  then  determined  to  try  his  fortune 


in  America,  and  in  1846  crossed  the  broad  Atlan- 
tic with  a  friend,  Mr.  Shettlebower.  Together 
they  came  west  to  Chicago,  then  a  small  village, 
and  after  a  month  made  their  way  southward  to 
Jasper  County.  Mr.  Shettlebower  settled  in  St. 
Marie,  and  our  subject  remained  with  and  worked 
for  him  about  four  years.  In  1850,  Mr.  Michl 
was  joined  by  a  brother  who  had  just  come  from 
the  Old  Country,  and  they  too  rented  land  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  themselves  during  the 
summer.  In  the  fall  of  1851,  they  purchased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  timberland,  which 
they  cleared  and  improved,  making  a  good  farm. 
Their  home  was  a  small  log  house  with  a  puncheon 
floor,  clapboard  roof  and  mud  and  stick  chimney. 
Their  furniture  was  also  very  primitive  in  charac- 
ter, being  mostly  made  by  themselves.  They  had 
to  endure  many  of  the  privations  of  frontier  life, 
but  they  were  young  men,  full  of  vigor,  and  they 
prospered  in  this  pioneer  life.  The  brothers  con- 
tinued to  carry  on  business  in  partnership  for 
about  three  years,  when  Nicholas  bought  out  the 
other's  interest. 

Since  that  time  our  subject  has  purchased  more 
land,  and  he  still  retains  a  good  large  farm,  al- 
though he  has  given  a  considerable  amount  to  his 
children.  In  1861,  he  replaced  the  log  cabin  witli 
a  substantial  frame  residence;  he  has  recently  built 
a  large  barn,  added  other  outbuildings,  planted  an 
orchard,  and  now  has  one  of  the  valuable  and  de- 
sirable farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Michl  not  only 
commenced  life  empty-handed,  but  was  in  debt 
for  his  transportation  to  the  New  World.  He 
paid  off  this  obligation  with  two  or  three  years  of 
hard  work  upon  the  farm,  and  has  since  climbed 
steadily  upward,  overcoming  the  obstacles  and 
difficulties  in  his  path.  He  is  to-day  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  substantial  farmers  of  Jasper 
County. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1852,  Mr.  Michl  wedded 
Louisa  Kinsel,  who  was  born  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Charles  Kinsel,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Jasper  County.  Four  children  have 
blessed  this  union.  The  sons,  Charles,  Frank  and 
William,  are  all  substantial  farmers  residing  near 
the  old  homestead,  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Doran,  who  is  also  an  agriculturist. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


467 


Mr.  Michl  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  New- 
ton Catholic  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  stal- 
wart Democrat.  He  has  never  had  any  inclination, 
however,  to  seek  public  office,  preferring  to  devote 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in 
which  he  has  met  with  signal  success.  Mr.  Michl 
has  lead  a  busy  and  useful  life,  and  his  honorable 
and  upright  career  has  won  him  universal  confi- 
dence and  well-merited  esteem. 


8AAC  S.  WHITE,  a  representative  citizen  and 
influential  farmer  of  Noble  Township,  Rich- 
ji[  land  County,  resides  on  section  33,  where  he 
owns  a  good  farm.  He  has  four  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  valuable  and  arable  land,  and  also 
a  timber  tract  of  forty  acres.  Upon  the  place  are 
good  buildings,  well-kept  fences,  a  forty-acre 
orchard,  and  all  the  improvements  found  upon  a 
model  farm,  while  the  well-tilled  fields  indicate  the 
care  and  supervision  of  an  enterprising  owner. 

Mr.  White  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
April  22, 1822.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  born 
and  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  and  married  a  lady 
from  Maryland.  He  was  of  Dutch  descent,  and  his 
wife  was  of  Irish  extraction.  He  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  was  also 
one  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes.  In  1793,  he  re- 
moved from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  on  a  flatboat. 
At  that  time  there  were  only  three  houses  in  Cin- 
cinnati. His  last  days  were  spent  in  Dearborn 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  located  when  there  were 
only  two  families  there  besides  his  own.  They  had 
some  trouble  with  the  Indians  and  lived  in  a  block 
house.  His  death  occurred  in  1842,  at  the  ex- 
treme old  age  of  ninety-three  years.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Whig,  and  his  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Otha  White,  father  of  our  subject,  was  the  eighth 
in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  He  was  born  m  a 
pioneer  log  cabin  in  Indiana,  October  8,  1800,  and 
was  early  inured  to  the  arduous  labors  of  develop- 
ing new  land.  In  1824,  he  removed  to  Decatur 


County,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  hewed  out 
a  farm.  He  was  married  April  5,  1821,  to  Lucy 
Kggleston,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  and  there 
remained  until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Her  family 
was  of  Dutch  lineage.  Mr.  White  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  secured  a  good  home.  He  died  from 
the  effects  of  an  injury  in  October,  1850,  at  the 
age  of  fifty  years,  and  his  wife,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  1802,  passed  away  on  the  old  homestead 
in  1864.  Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  he  took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  vot- 
ing the  Whig  ticket. 

Their  family  numbered  six  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters. Russell  died  in  Missouri;  Giles,  who  is 
now  living  in  Greensburg,  Ind.,  served  for  three 
years  in  the  late  war,  was  Captain  of  a  company 
of  the  Sixty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  held 
as  a  prisoner  by  the  rebels  for  some  time;  Otha 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  while  on  a  flatboat 
going  to  New  Orleans;  Abigail,  wife  of  Jarnes  For- 
tune, resides  in  Greensburg,  Ind.;  Mrs.  Susan  For- 
tune resides  in  the  same  place,  her  husband  having 
died  in  the  army;  Eliphalet  is  a  farmer  of  Law- 
rence County,  111.;  John  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 
j^ears;  Lucy  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Knox,  who  lives 
near  Ottumwa,  Iowa;  and  Amy,  her  twin  sister, 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Isaac  S. 
White  spent  his  boyhood  days.  He  attended  the 
subscription  schools  for  about  three  months  in  the 
year,  and  the  remainder  of  the  time  worked  on  the 
farm.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  when,  in  November,  1839,  in  Decatur 
Count}',  he  married  Miss  Louisa  Tremain,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  neighborhood  and  went  to  the 
same  school  as  her  husband.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Reuben  and  Elizabeth  (Hardy)  Tremain,  formerly 
of  New  York.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  White  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  and  built  a  hewed-log 
cabin.  He  subsequently  bought  and  sold  land 
in  that  county,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
November,  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Indianapo- 
lis. In  1877,  after  having  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  that  city  for  eight  months,  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  his  present  farm. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  been  born  eight 
children:  Otha,  who  died  in  Champaign  County, 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


111.,  in  the  spring  of  1893;  Louisa  Ellen,  wife  of 
William  T.  Osman,  a  farmer  of  Uecatur  County, 
Ind.;  Giles,  a  successful  farmer  of  Davis  County, 
Ind.;  Gilbert  L.,  who  is  section  foreman  on  the 
railroad  and  makes  his  home  in  McDonough  Coun- 
ty, 111.;  Caroline,  wife  of  William  Creech;  Eliza- 
beth 8.,  wife  of  George  Pflaum,  a  farmer  of  Rich- 
land  County;  Flora  Belle,  wife  of  Frederick  Odell, 
an  agriculturist  of  this  county;  and  Alice,  who 
married  Charles  B.  Adams,  baggage-master  at  the 
Ohio  &  Mississippi  depot  in  Olney.  The  children 
were  all  born  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Indiana, 
and  acquired  good  educations,  which  fitted  them 
for  the  practical  and  responsible  duties  of  life. 

For  forty  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  have  been 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  now  Deacon 
of  the  church  in  Noble,  and  to  its  support  he  con- 
tributes lioerally.  For  twenty-one  successive  years 
he  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Indiana.  He 
has  also  been  Assessor,  Collector  and  Supervisor, 
and  his  duties  have  ever  been  discharged  with 
promptness  and  fidelity.  He  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Henry  C\uy,  and  was  a  Whig  until 
1856,  since  which  time  he  has  affiliated  with  the 
Democracy.  A  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict 
integrity,  he  has  the  high  regard  of  all  who  know 
him.  His  enterprise,  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment have  made  his  business  career  a  successful  one, 
and  he  has  risen  from  a  humble  position  to  one  of 
wealth  and  affluence. 


UILLIAM  BOUGHAN,  who  devotes  his  time 
and  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  on 
'^S  section  35,  German  Township,  Rich  land 
County,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  having 
been  born  in  Union  County  on  the  9th  of  August, 
1838.  His  grandfather,  Mordecai  Boughan,  was 
born  in  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  and  became  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Ross  and  Union  Counties, 
Ohio.  lie  enlisted  in  the  War  of  1812  in  the 
American  army.  Capt.  W.  M.  Boughan,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  and 


married  Nancy  Dixon,  a  native  of  Loudoun  County, 
Va.,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Dixon.  Mr.  Boughan 
was  a  man  of  good  education,  and  followed  teach- 
ing both  before  and  after  his  marriage.  He  opened 
up  a  farm  in  Union  County,  and  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  there  for  many  years.  In  1860, 
he  became  a  resident  of  German  Township,  Rich- 
land  County,  where  he  passed  several  years,  but 
at  length  sold  his  farm  in  this  locality,  and  went 
to  Auburn,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  retired  until 
calle,d  to  his  final  rest  in  August,  1892,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-five  years.  He  served  for 
several  years  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen.  He  was  also  a 
soldier  of  the  late  war,  and  became  Captain  of 
Company  C,  Sixty-third  Illinois  Infantry.  His 
wife  died  in  Indiana  some  ten  years  previous  to 
the  death  of  her  husband. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  in  their 
family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Nancy 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Klotz,  of  Van  Wert  County, 
Ohio;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Aaron  Shirk,  of 
Union  County,  Ohio;  II.  C.  makes  his  home  in 
East  St.  Louis;  and  Millie  resides  with  her  brother 
in  East  St.  Louis. 

When  a  young  man,  William  Boughan,  whoso 
name  heads  this  record,  came  to  Illinois.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  Ohio,  and  in  1860  re- 
moved with  his  father  to  Richland  County.  The 
following  autumn,  however,  he  returned  to  his 
native  State,  living  in  Stark  County  until  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  when  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  C,  Sixty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  of  which 
his  father  was  Captain.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  July,  1865.  He 
participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  the  regi- 
ment, including  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battles 
of  Chattanooga  and  Mission  Ridge  and  the  At- 
lanta campaign,  after  which  he  went  with  Sherman 
on  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  and 
again  in  1892  took  part  with  the  old  veterans  in 
the  military  pageant  in  the  Capitol  City. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Boughau  returned 
home,  and  the  following  year  rented  land,  which 
he  farmed  for  some  time.  At  length  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  where  he  now  re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


sides,  and  soon  placed  it  all  under  the  plow,  so 
that  the  rich  soil  was  made  to  yield  a  golden  trib- 
ute in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He 
also  bought  sixty  acres  additional,  and  now  has  a 
good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He 
has  always  borne  his  part  in  public  affairs,  and  has 
acceptably  served  in  several  official  positions.  He 
was  elected  Supervisor  of  German  Township  in 
1890,  and  lias  also  been  a  member  of  the  County 
Board  of  Supervisors.  In  April,  1893,  he  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  still  holds.  He 
lias  served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  and 
in  that  office,  as  in  all  others  that  he  has  filled,  he 
has  worked  for  the  best  in  terests  of  the  community, 
and  has  won  the  commendation  of  all  concerned. 
In  1860  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  has  since  been  a  warm 
adherent  of  the  Democracy.  He  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  of  the  da}',  and  has  taken 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics. 

On  the  25th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Boughan  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio, 
with  Sarah  Shields,  a  native  of  Washington  County, 
.  Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  Euos  Shields,  who  is  still 
living  in  the  Buckeye  State.  Four  children  have 
been  born  of  this  union.  Hattie  is  at  home;  Dol- 
lie  is  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability  in  Richland 
County;  11.  C.  is  married  and  carries  on  farm- 
ing in  German  Township;  and  C.  W.  is  a  young 
business  man  of  St.  Louis.  The  Boughan  family 
is  one  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  com- 
munity. The  household  is  the  abode  of  hospital- 
ity, and  its  members  rank  high  in  the  social  cir- 
cles in  which  they  move. 


A  FAYETTE  P.  FOLTZ  is  a  farmer  of  Wade 
Township,  residing  on  section  18,  whose 
life  record  we  greatly  desire  to  add  to  the 
history  of  Jasper,  his  native  county.  He  has 
passed  his  entire  life  in  this  community,  having  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  Wade  Town- 
ship, September  18,  1808.  His  parents  were  James 


and  Mary  A.  (Giuivan)  Foltz,  natives  of  Virginia. 
After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Ohio,  and  a 
few  years  later,  about  1852,  came  to  Illinois,  locat- 
ing in  Jasper  County.  They  became  early  settlers 
of  Wade  Township,  when  this  locality  was  an 
almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Mr.  Foltz  purchased 
raw  land,  and  turning  the  first  furrows  upon  the 
same  he  developed  it  into  a  good  farm,  which  is 
now  the  home  of  our  subject.  He  cleared  and  im- 
proved one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  he  made  his  home  until  called  to  his 
final  rest,  February  6,  1876.  Mrs.  Foltz  still  sur- 
vives her  husband  and  is  now  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  a  well-preserved  lady  of  seventy-two 
years.  The  father  of  our  subject  was  quite  prom- 
inent in  public  affairs,  took  an  active  part  in  local 
politics  and  served  in  a  number  of  official  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust.  He  filled  the  office  of 
Constable  and  was  Deputy  Sheriff  for  fourteen 
years.  With  the  Lutheran  Church  he  held  mem- 
bership. In  his  death  the  county  lost  one  of  its 
best  citizens  and  the  community  a  valued  man. 

The  Foltz  family  numbered  six  sons,  who  grew 
to  mature  years.  Solomon  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five;  Ferdinand  is  married  and  follows 
farming  in  Jasper  County;  L.  Dow  is  a  farmer  of 
Wade  Township;  Berzilius  follows  the  same  pur- 
suit in  Jasper  County;  La  Fayetto  is  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth;  and  Ezra  is  a  farmer  of  this 
county. 

Mr.  Foltz  of  this  sketch  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  the  county  of  his  birth.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  arriving  at  man's  estate  and  in  the 
common  schools  acquired  a  good  English  educa- 
tion. After  reaching  maturity  he  rented  land  ;\nd 
carried  on  farming  for  himself  for  several  years. 
An  important  event  in  his  life  occurred  in  Olney, 
111.,  December  23,  1886,  when  was  celebrated  his 
marriage  with  Emma  J.,  daughter  of  Jacob  Cuue- 
fare.  The  lady  was  born  in  Richland  County,  but 
came  with  her  parents  to  Jasper  County  when  ten 
years  old.  Two  children  have  been  born  unto 
them,  Earl  and  Bessie,  and  they  have  lost  one  son, 
Roy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five  months. 

Mr.  Foltz  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
1885,  and  in  the  same  year  bought  a  portable  mill 
and  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber, 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


which  business  lie  has  since  continued.  He  lo- 
cated upon  his  present  farm  in  March,  1888,  he 
first  buying  eighty  acres,  but  slightly  improved. 
Since  that  time  he  lias  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  by  the  purchase  of  forty  acres  additional. 
His  land  is  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  In  addition  to  this  Mr.  Foltz  also 
has  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  timberland 
in  Wade  Township.  In  1888  he  bought  a  steam- 
thresher  and  during  the  season  engages  in  thresh- 
ing, at  the  same  time  carrying  on  his  other  busi- 
ness interests.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of  indomita- 
ble energy  and  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life, 
which  lias  resulted  in  bringing  him  in  a  handsome 
competency. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foltz  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 
He  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party 
and  has  voted  for  each  of  its  Presidential  candi- 
dates since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Hon.  S.  J.  Til- 
den.  Mr.  Foltz  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  this 
county  and  is  not  only  widely  but  favorably 
known.  The  acquaintances  of  his  boyhood  arc 
numbered  among  his  warmest  friends,  a  fact  which 
indicates  an  honorable  and  upright  life.  The  es- 
teem of  his  fellow-citizens  is  well  deserved,  as  is 
the  confidence  universally  reposed  in  him. 


J'OHN  H.  HOWARD,  who  carries  on  general 
I  farming  on  section  33,  Wade  Township,  Jas- 
--7x111  per  County,  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
/'  of  this  locality,  having  here  resided  since 
1854.  As  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known,  we 
fee!  assured  that  his  life  record  will  prove  of  in- 
terest to  many  of  our  readers.  He  was  born  in 
Bartholomew  County,  Ind.,  September  3,  1841, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Howard,  who  was  born  in 
Decatur  County,  Ind.  The  father  after  attaining 
to  mature  years  wedded  Jane  Waddle,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  but  when  a  child  came  to  Indi- 
ana with  her  father,  John  Waddle.  He  settled  in 
Ripley  County,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Bar- 


tholomew County  for  a  few  years.  The  year  1854 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Jasper  County,  111.  He 
entered  land  in  Wade  Township  but  was  not  long 
permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  his  death  occur- 
ring in  September,  1855.  Mrs.  Howard  reared  her 
children  and  afterwards  married  Benjamin  Kru- 
zan,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County,  who  died  six 
months  later. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  and  is  the  only  son  in  a 
family  of  four  children  who  grew  to  mature  years. 
He  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  when  he  came  to  this 
county.  He  remained  with  his  mother  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority  and  aided  her  in  the 
care  of  the  farm.  His  school  privileges  were 
quite  limited,  but  by  experience,  observation 
and  reading  in  later  years  he  has  become  a 
well-informed  man.  During  the  late  war  he 
donned  the  blue  in  August,  1862,  as  a.  member  of 
Company  I,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
served  until  February,  1863,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability.  On  regaining 
his  health,  he  again  enlisted,  October  24,  1863,  as  a 
member  of  Company  E,  Sixth  Illinois  Cavalry. 
He  joined  his  regiment  at  Germantown,  Tenn.,. 
and  with  it  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Nashville  and 
Franklin  and  many  others  of  less  importance.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Selma,  Ala.,  November  5, 
1865,  and  honorably  discharged  at  Springfield. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Howard  returned  to  his  home  in  Jasper  County 
and  the  next  year  located  upon  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides.  It  was  then  a  wild  and  unimproved 
tract,  hut  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  its 
development.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
ten  acres,  highly  improved  and  cultivated,  with  a 
comfortable  home  and  all  the  accessories  of  a 
model  farm.  Many  of  the  improvements  thereon 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 
He  is  also  a  carpenter,  and  many  of  the  residences 
in  the  neighborhood,  together  with  some  of  the 
dwellings  and  public  buildings  of  Newton,  are 
monuments  to  his  handiwork. 

Mr.  Howard  was  united  in  marriage  September 
8,1878,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Deming,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  who  came  to  Jasper  County  with  her 
father,  Frederick  Deming,  at  an  early  day.  Six 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


471 


children  grace  tlicir  union:  Harriet  G.,  Bertha  D., 
Emory  E.,  Frederick,  Margaret  J.  and  Olive  E. 
The  circle  yet  remains  unbroken. 

Mr.  Howard  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen,  who  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  The 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend, 
and  during  his  service  on  the  School  Board  he 
has  done  much  towards  securing  and  maintaining 
excellent  schools. 

Our  subject,  his  wife  and  mother  are  members 
of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  Socially,  he 
is  .a  member  of  Newton  Post  No.  550,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  Centennial  Lodge  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  of  Newton.  Since  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  forx  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  he  has  been  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  and  its 
principles,  although  lie  lias  never  sought  or  de- 
sired the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office. 
By  his  fellow-townsmen  he  is  regarded  as  a  man 
of  upright  character  and  he  has  their  confidence 
and  esteem  in  a  high  degree. 


ENRY  H.  KOERTGE  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative  farmers  of  Madison  Township, 
Riehland  County.  He  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  on 
section  18,  and  has  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the 
community.  His  life  record  is  as  follows:  A 
Prussian  by  birth,  he  was  born  near  Magdeburg, 
September  8,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and 
Dorothy  (Smith)  Koertge.  In  his  native  land  he 
received  a  common-school  education. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  our  subject  bade 
good-bye  to  home  and  friends  and  went  to  Bremen, 
where  he  took  passage  on  a  Westward-bound 
steamship.  The  voyage  was  a  stormy  and  tem- 
pestuous one,  but  after  sixteen  days  the  vessel 
dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  and 
Mr.  Koertge  landed  on  the  shores  of  the  New 
World.  lie  made  his  way  d.irectly  to  Edwards 
County,  111.,  where  he  began  life  as  a  farm  laborer. 


The  next  year  he  was  joined  by  his  parents.  The 
father  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
home,  however,  his  death  occurring  two  j'ears 
later,  in  Bon  pas  Township.  The  mother  survived 
him  some  years  and  was  called  to  her  final  home 
in  February,  1890.  Their  remains  were  interred 
in  the  cemetery  at  West  Salem,  111. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Koertge  of  this  sketch  removed  to 
Olney,  and  on  the  21st  of  December  of  the 
same  year  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Rosinsv 
AViss,  daughter  of  Conrad  Wiss,  of  German  Town- 
ship, Riehland  Count}7.  She  was  born  in  that 
township,  where  her  parents  settled  at  a  very  early 
day.  They  now  reside  in  Olney.  After  two 
years  spent  in  that  city,  Mr.  Koertge  removed  to 
German  Township,  where  he  operated  a  rented 
farm  for  four  years.  In  1877  he  came  to  Madison 
Township  and  bought  forty  acres  of  land,  the  nu- 
cleus of  his  present  farm.  It  was  a  raw  tract,  but 
the  first  season  he  built  a  house  and  cleared  two 
acres.  By  perseverance  and  industry  he  soon 
cleared  the  remainder  and  placed  theentire  amount 
under  cultivation.  As  his  financial  resources  were 
increased,  he  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 
until  it  comprises  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  of 
which  one  hundred  and  forty  yield  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  care  he  bestows  upon  it. 
The  remaining  one  hundred  acres  are  pasture  and 
timberland.  Mr.  Koertge  carries  on  general 
farming  and  is  also  engaged  in  breeding  thorough- 
bred Shorthorn  cattle.  He  has  good  improvements 
upon  his  place,  and  in  1892  built  a  fine  bam.  30x50, 
with  twenty-foot  posts. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koertge  have  been  born 
eight  children,  namely:  Elizabeth;  Lydia,  wife 
of  William  Zimmerman;  Herman,  Charles,  Lorn, 
Wesley,  Hulda  and  John.  The  parents  and  their 
eldest  son  are  members  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist 
Church. 

In  1873  Mr.  Koertge  met  with  a  painful  acci- 
dent, caused  by  his  team  running  away,  which  dis- 
abled him  for  several  months.  He  has  also  had 
other  misfortunes  and  difficulties,  but  by  deter- 
mined will  and  energy  he  has  overcome  the  obsta- 
cles in  his  path  and  worked  his  way  upward  to  a 
position  of  affluence.  He  cast  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  R.  B.  Hayes,  but  for  the  past  eight 


472 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


years  has  supported  the  Prohibition  party,  being  a 
warm  advocate  of  the  temperance  cause.  He  lias 
served  as  School  Trustee  and  held  other  local 
otlices.  Public-spirited  and  progressive,  he  gives 
his  aid  to  every  interest  calculated  to  benefit  the 
community,  and  Richland  County  recognizes  in 
him  a  valued  citizen. 


NIIIL1P  RALING,  proprietor  of  the  National 
Hotel  in  Olney,  the  oldest  and  most  popular 
hoter*  under  continuous  ownership  in  the 
city,  is  a  well-known  resident  of  Riehliind 
County.  He  has  the  genial  and  agreeable  qualities 
of  the  old-time  host,  and  has  made  his  house  a 
favorite  with  the  traveling  public,  so  that  he  re- 
ceives a  liberal  patronage  and  is  doing  a  good  bus- 
iness. His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  bo.rn 
ill  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  December  11,  1831,  and 
is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Susanna  (Sherer)  Raling. 
His  parents  were  born  in  the  same  country,  and 
the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  one  of 
the  unfortunate  Hessian  soldiers  who  were  sold  by 
their  Duke  to  the  English  Government  to  fight 
against  the  Americans  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  served  in  America  throughout,  that  strug- 
gle, and  at  its  close  returned  to  his  native  land. 

Philip  Raling  left  home  and  kindred  in  1846, 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  and  entirely  alone,  so 
far  as  family  and  friends  were  concerned,  crossed 
the  seas  to  America.  He  made  the  voyage  from 
Bremen  to  New  Orleans  in  a  sailing-vessel,  and  was 
fifty-eight  days  upon  the  Atlantic.  On  reaching 
the  Crescent  City  he  pursued  his  way  up  the  Miss- 
issippi and  Ohio  Rivers  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  24th  of  December,  1846.  After 
a  few  weeks  there  spent  he  went  to  Indiana,  locat- 
ing in  Brookville,  where  he  remained  for  two  years, 
after  which  he  went  to  Cambridge  City,  Ind.  On 
the  13th  of  January,  1853,  he  was  married  in  Cov- 
ington,  Ky.,  to  Miss  Sarah  Marinda  Weaver,  who 
was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Ann  (Rogers)  Weaver. 


The  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  of  German  descent,  known  as  "Pennsylvania 
Dutch." 

Mr.  Raling  and  his  wife  made  their  home  in 
Cambridge  City,  Ind.,  until  1857,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Johnson  Count}',  Kan.,  near  Squiresville 
Post  Office.  There  our  subject  took  up  a  quarter- 
section  of  Government  land,  which  he  improved 
and  made  into  a  good  farm.  He  was  doing  well 
there  and  would  have  remained  had  not  the  near- 
ness  of  his  location  to  the  Missouri  border  made  it 
very  uncomfortable,  and  at  times  dangerous,  dur- 
ing the  late  Civil  War.  Raiding  parties  from  both 
sides  were  frequent  visitors,  and  it  was  almost  im- 
possible to  keep  any  live  stock,  especially  any  good 
horses,  so  during  the  summer  of  1864  Mr.  Raling 
sold  out  and  came  to  Olney,  111.  For  the  want  of 
a  house  in  town  he  was  obliged  to  spend  the  win- 
ter in  the  country  near  by,  but  on  June  1,  1865, 
moved  to  the  city.  The  following  year  he  built  a 
hotel,  which  was  called  the  Raling  House,  and  en- 
gaged in  hotel-keeping.  Later  he  enlarged  tire 
building,  and  in  1867  changed  its  name  to  the 
National.  Subsequently  he  made  important  addi- 
tions to  the  house,  until  at  this  writing  it  has 
thirty-three  rooms.  This  hotel  has  now  been  car- 
ried on  continuously  by  our  subject  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  The  National  House  is  well  furnished 
and  is  kept  with  extreme  neatness,  its  table  is  good 
and  it  can  boast  the  most  accommodating  and  ca- 
pable clerk,  in  the  person  of  William  E.  Raling,  to 
be  found  in  the  State. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raliug  have  had  a  family  of  four 
daughters  and  two  sons,  but  their  eldest,  a  son, 
died  in  infancy;  Lizzie  Tryphena  aids  her  mother 
in  the  care  of  the  hotel;  Idorais  the  wife  of  George 
F.  Montgomery,  of  Chicago;  Mamie  is  the  wife  of 
T.  II.  Dunlap,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Clara  G.  became 
Mrs.  L.  T.  Reed,  of  Olney;  and  William  Edward  is 
the  present  efficient  clerk  of  the  National  Hotel. 
In  her  religious  views  Mrs.  Raling  is  a  Presbyte- 
rian. Mr.  Raling  and  daughter  Lizzie  are  mem- 
bers of  the  New,  or  Swedenborgian,  Church. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Raling  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  eight  years  as  a  member  of  the  Olney  City 
Council.  He  was  elected  by  both  parties,  and 
finally  declined  to  accept  the  nomination  for  an- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


473 


other  term.  Socially,  he  is  a  Knight-Templar  Ma- 
son, a  member  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Uiehland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  and 
(loriu  Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  Council,  and  Olney  Chapter  No.  100,  O.  E. 
S.,  and  has  held  official  positions  in  all  these  bodies. 
Miss  Lizzie  Ruling  is  a  member  of  Olney  Chapter, 
O.  E.  S.,  of  which  she  is  Past  Worthy  Matron,  and 
is  also  Past  President  of  the  Woman's  Relief  Corps. 
William  E.  is  a  member  of  Marmion  Lodge  No. 
52,  K.  P.,  and  is  the  present  Secretary  of  the  so- 
ciety. 

Mr.  Raling's  hotel  property  includes  eighty-six 
feet  front  on  Whittle  Avenue,  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  deep,  in  addition  to  which  he  owns 
two  lots,  120x127  ft.  In  all  these  years  which  our 
subject  has  spent  in  Olney,  he  has  always  been 
known  as  an  industrious,  upright  man,  of  good 
habits,  enterprising  and  public-spirited,  and  a  good 
citizen.  He  well  deserves  mention  in  this  volume, 
and  with  pleasure  we  present  this  sketch  of  his  life 
to  our  readers. 


.ILLIAM  M.  BABBS,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  on  section  18,  Wade  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County,  is  one  of  the  veter- 
ans of  the  late  war,  and  is  a  representative  citizen 
of  this  community.  In  the  years  of  his  residence 
in  southern  Illinois,  he  has  formed  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance, and  has  gained  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
a  large  circle  of  friends.  He  was  born  near  Rising 
Sun,  Ohio  County,Ind.,  April  11, 1835.  His  father, 
William  Babhs,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  and  when  a  young  man  emigrated  Westward, 
becoming  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ohio  County, 
lie  there  married  Rlioda,  daughter  of  John  Dick- 
inson. In  the  midst  of  the  forest  he  hewed  out  a 
farm,  on  which  he  reared  his  family,  lie  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  at  the  home  of  his  son  in  Ef- 
fingham  County,  his  death  occurring  in  1876.  The 
Babbs  family  numbered  seven  sons  and  six  daugh- 


ters, who  grew  to  mature  years,  were  married  and 
had  families  of  their  own.  Seven  of  the  number 
are  3ret  living. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  boyhood  of  our  subject,  which  was  spent  in 
attendance  at  the  common  schools  during  the 
winter  months,  and  in  working  in  the  fields  dur- 
iug-the  summer.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to 
Jefferson  County,  Ind.,  and  learned  the  cooper's 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  a  number  of  years. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Babbs  was  there  celebrated  in 
August,  1854,  Miss  Cornelia  C.  Hensley  becoming 
his  wife.  Her  parents,  Walter  and  Eliza  Heusley, 
were  pioneers  of  that  count}'.  The  young  couple 
began  their  domestic  life  in  Jefferson  County,  but 
after  three  years  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  South 
Muddy  Township,  Jasper  County.  They  bore  all 
the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life,  and  in  a 
log  cabin  they  lived  in  true  pioneer  style,  but  as 
the  years  passed  prosperity  rewarded  their  labors. 

In  August,  1861,  Mr.  Babbs  responded  to  his 
country's  call  for  troops  and  donned  the  blue  as  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Thirty -eighth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, in  which  he  served  until  the  expiration  of 
his  three-years  term,  in  1864.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Fredericktown  (Mo.),  Corinth,  Perry- 
ville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, Missionary  Ridge  and  Resaca.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Chattanooga  with  the  regiment,  which 
was  disbanded  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  September  22, 
1864.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier  of  the  late  war, 
always  found  at  his  post  of  duty. 

After  his  discharge,  Mr.  Babbs  returned  to  his 
family  in  Jasper  County,  and  the  following  year 
removed  to  Effingham  County,  where  he  opened 
up  a  fine  farm  on  sections  25  and  26,  Lucas  Town- 
ship, where  for  several  years  he  successfully  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1884,  he  sold  out 
and  returned  to  Jasper  County,  purchasing  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  has  since 
planted  a  fine  orchard,  containing  five  hundred 
apple  trees,  and  a  good  vineyard,  and  made  other 
valuable  and  desirable  improvements,  which  indi- 
cate the  thrift  and  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babbs  have  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Whistler,  of 
Kokomo,  lud.;  William  W.,  who  is  married  and  is 


474 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


now  engaged  in  raining  in  California;  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Charles Foltz,  of  Clay  County,  111.;  Herman 
E.  and  Samuel,  who  carry  on  the  home  farm;  Zella, 
Jesse  and  Edwin. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Protestant  Meth- 
odist Church  of  Falmouth.  Mr.  Babbs  is  a  Master 
Mason  and  has  served  as  Treasurer  of  his  lodge. 
He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of 
the  Democratic  party,  with  which  he  has  voted 
since  attaining  his  majority.  He  was  a  faithful 
soldier  of  the  late  war,  and  is  alike  true  to  his 
duties  of  citizenship  in  times  of  peace,  taking  a 
commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding. 


.  HILIP  MASON  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  on  section  15,  North  Muddy 
Township,  Jasper  County.  His  farm  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  val- 
uable land,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  well  improved.  It  is  pleasantly  situated 
about  a-half  mile  north  of  Wheeler,  and  is  one  of 
the  fine  farms  of  the  township.  The  owner  is  one  of 
the  well-known  citizens  of  this  community.  He 
was  born  in  Edwards  County,  111.,  near  Albion, 
February  6,  1860,  and  on  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  sides  is  descended  from  families  that  were 
founded  in  this  country  during  Colonial  days. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Catherine  J.  (Hay)  Ma- 
son, the  former  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  the  latter 
of  Blair  County,  Pa.  John  Mason  was  twice  mar- 
ried. His  first  union  was  with  Miss  Julia  A. 
Bond,  January  25,  1849,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children,  a  son  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  four 
are  yet  living.  He  was  for  many  years  a  farmer 
of  Edwards  County,  111.,  but  in  1865  he  removed 
to  Moultrie  County,  where  he  spent  a  year.  The 
succeeding  year  of  his  life  was  passed  in  Coles 
County,  this  State,  and  on  the  12th  of  January, 
1867,  he  came  to  Jasper  County.  Purchasing 
ninety  acres  of  land  on  section  4,  North  Muddy 


Township,  he  there  resided  until  1871,  when  he 
sold  his  farm  to  Alexander  Wilson  and  purchased 
one-half  of  section  9,  of  the  same  township.  This 
he  improved  and  from  time  to  time  he  extended 
its  boundaries  until  it  comprised  twelve  hundred 
acres.  The  entire  amount  was  placed  under  cul- 
tivation, and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  all  occu- 
pied by  his  sons.  He  died  November  22,  1889,"  in 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  having  been  taken  sick  while 
making  a  tour  through  the  South.  He  was  then 
sixty  years,  six  months  and  eighteen  days  of  age. 

Mr.  Mason  was  a  prominent  and  influential  citi- 
zen, and  held  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
was  brought  in  contact.  He  served  as  Supervisor 
of  North  Muddy  Township  for  several  terms,  and 
was  tendered  the  nomination  of  Representative 
from  his  district,  but  declined  the  honor.  In 
former  years  he  had  served  as  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
Edwards  County  during  the  trying  times  of  the 
war.  Socially,  he  was  a  member  of  Newton  Lodge 
No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  buried  with  the 
rites  and  honors  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  'His 
wife,  who  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  died  January  10,  1876.  Her  mother  is 
still  living  in  Anderson  County,  Kan.,  having 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  and 
is  the  first  in  order  of  birth.  Ephraim  married  Miss 
Nancy  A.  Crews,  and  is  living  a  mile  north  of 
Wheeler;  Gilbert,  who  wedded  Miss  Lucy  E. 
Caldwell,  follows  farming  about  four  miles  from 
Wheeler;  Nannie  A.  is  the  wife  of  R.  I.  Madden, 
of  Grayville,  111.;  Thomas,  Edith  and  Emily  are 
the  other  members  of  the  family. 

Philip  Mason,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  first  five  years  of  his  life  in  Edwards 
County,  and  then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removals  until  their  arrival  in  Jasper  County  in 
1867,  where  he  has  now  resided  for  about  twenty- 
six  years.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  under  the  parental  loof  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  lie 
was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  has 
made  that  pursuit  his  life  work.  On  the  10th  of 
October,  1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Missouri  C.  Caldwell,  and  their  union  has  been 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


475 


blessed  with  a  daughter,  Bertha.  Mrs.  Mason  is 
the  daughter  of  Albert  G.  and  Rebecca  J.  (Wagle) 
Caldwell,  the  former  a  native  of  Indiana,  and 
the  latter  of  Kentucky.  They  were  early  settlers 
of  Grove  Township.  The  father  died  April  23, 
1880,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years,  and  the  mother 
passed  away  March  19,  1890,  when  sixty-three 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  farm  which  is  still  their  home.  He  re- 
ceived one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  his  land 
from  his  father's  estate,  of  which  he  was  adminis- 
trator. Although  his  father's  business  was  widely 
scattered  over  a  number  of  States,  our  subject  set- 
tled up  the  entire  affair  at  the  expense  of  only 
$45.  As  before  stated,  his  farm  comprises  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres.  The  rich  and  fertile 
fields  indicate  his  enterprise,  and  the  neat  appear- 
ance of  the  place  attests  his  practical  and  pro- 
gressive spirit.  He  is  also  engaged  quite  exten- 
sively in  stock-dealing.  Socially,  Mr.  Mason  is  a 
member  of  Newton  Lodge  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 
Newton  Lodge  No.  109,  R.  A.  M.;  and  of  Wheeler 
Lodge  No.  130,  I.  O.  O.  F.;  also  of  Effingham  En- 
campment No.  134.  In  his  political  affiliations  he 
is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  signal 
success. 


'if  AMES  LARRABEE,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing physicians  and  surgeons  of  Jasper 
County,  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  prac- 
_  tice  in  Wheeler,  where  he  has  resided  since 
1887.  He  is  descended  from  good  old  Revolu- 
tionary stock  and  comes  from  one  of  the  old  Colo- 
nial families.  The  family  is  of  French  descent.  The 
grandfather,  John  Larrabee,  when  seventeen  years 
of  age  enlisted  for  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
valiantly  aided  the  Colonies  in  their  struggle  for 
independence.  He  was  afterward  a  Virginian 


farmer  and  in  1801  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
followed  the  same  pursuit  until  his  death  in  1846, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years. 

John  Larrabee,  the  father  of  the  Doctor,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  went  with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  in 
that  State  followed  farming  until  Octobers,  1852, 
when  he  removed  to  Crawford  County,  111.  He 
there  entered  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  from  the  Government,  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  timberlaud,  and  developed  a  fine 
farm.  He  married  Mary  Edwards,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  a  daughter  of  James  Edwards,  who  was 
born  in  Wales.  In  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century  three  of  the  Ed  wards  brothers  came  to  this 
country.  After  their  arrival  they  separated,  Hay- 
den  and  John  removing  with  their  families  to  Vir- 
ginia. The  other  brother,  Robert,  owned  property 
in  Nevv  York  City,  which  he  leased  for  ninety-nine 
years.  This  is  now  in  litigation,  the  property  be- 
ing estimated  to  be  worth  $400,000,000.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  is  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  these  brothers.  He  died  in  Ohio  at 
an  advanced  age.  John  Larrabee,  father  of  the 
Doctor,  resided  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  for  fifty 
years  and  then,  coming  to  Illinois,  spent  twenty-one 
years  in  Crawford  County,  where  he  died  in  1873, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  }'ears.  His  wife  passed 
away  about  a  month  previous,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of 
seven  sons  and  a  daughter:  David,  Margaret,  James 
and  John  (twins),  William  and  Hiram  (twins),  Isaac 
and  Oliver.  James,  Hiram  and  Isaac  are  the  only 
ones  now  living.  John  was  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry  during 
the  late  war  and  died  in  the  service  at  Tullahoma, 
Tenn.  Hiram  is  living  on  a  farm  in  Crawford 
County,  near  Oblong  and  is  the  oldest  stock-shipper 
in  that  vicinity.  Isaac  follows  farmthg  in  Texas. 
William,  who  was  in  the  same  regiment  as  his 
brother  John  during  the  late  war,  died  in  1873  from 
smallpox. 

Dr.  Larrabee  spent  the  days  of  his  bovhood  and 
youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority.  His  literary  education  was  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  of  Licking  County,  Ohio, and 
subsequently  he  became  a  student  in  Vandevbilt 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


College,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.  After  pursuing  a  two- 
years  course  of  medicine  and  surgery,  lie  was  grad- 
uated from  that  institution  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1878.  He  had,  however,  previously  practiced  med- 
icine, having  entered  the  profession  in  1865,  in 
Crawford  County,  111.  In  1869  he  removed  to 
Efflngham  County,  where  he  practiced  for  a  number 
of  years;  later  he  went  to  Elliottstown,  in  the  same 
county,  and  on  the  14th  of  March,  1873,  removed 
to  Latona,  where  he  engaged  iii  practice  for  four- 
teen years.  Since  1887  he  has  been  the  leading 
physician  of  Wheeler. 

The  Doctor  was  married  February  22,  1855,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Ann,  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rearick)  Henry,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Four  children  were  born  unto  them,  but 
Mary  A.,  Laura  and  an  infant  son  are  deceased. 
John  H.,  the  second  child,  is  the  only  one  now  liv- 
ing. He  is  engaged  in  the  furniture  business  in 
Newton.  He  married  Miss  Margaret  Wallace,  of 
Parson  City,  Kan.,  and  they  have  a  daughter,  Anna. 
Mrs.  Larrabce  died  August  16,  1863,  and  the  Doc- 
tor was  again  married,  March  23,  1865,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Isabel  Trimble,  of  Crawford 
County,  111.,  who  died  in  March,  1873.  They  had 
three  children,  but  all  are  now  deceased.  On  the 
16th  of  June,  1875,  in  North  Muddy  Township, 
Dr.  Larrabee  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Mary 
A.  Jayne.  Her  parents,  Alexander  and  Sophrona 
(Higlifill)  Jayne,  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, Charles  G.,  Docie  G.  and  Hallie  James,  but 
only  the  last-named  is  now  living. 

Socially,  Dr.  Larrabee  is  a  member  of  Wheeler 
Lodge  No.  130, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  been  connected 
with  this  fraternity  for  thirty-nine  years.  He  ex- 
ercises his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Democratic  pHrty,  and  although  he  has  never  been 
an  office-seeker  was  elected  to  represent  the  Forty- 
fifth  Senatorial  District  in  the  Thirty-fifth  General 
Assembly  of  Illinois.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  is  a  progressive  and  public-spirited 
citizen,  who  manifests  a  commendable  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 
All  educational,  social  and  moral  enterprises  find  in 
him  a  warm  friend.  In  the  line  of  his  profession 
he  is  well  versed.  He  is  a  thorough  student  of  the 


science  and  keeps  abreast  witli  all  discoveries  and 
methods  concerning  the  same.  Justly  has  he  won 
a  foremost  rank  among  the  medical  practitioners  of 
the  county,  and  the  large  and  lucrative  practice 
which  he  receives  is  well  merited. 


^ILLIAM  M.  JONES,  who  is   engaged  in 

agricultural  pursuits  on  section  8,  Crooked 
Creek  Township,  Jasper  County,  is  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  this  locality,  who  has  wit- 
nessed almost  the  entire  growth  and  development 
of  this  region.  A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in 
Brown  County  March  7,  1816,  and  comes  of  a 
family  of  English  origin,  which  at  an  early  day  in 
the  history  of  this  country  was  founded  in  Vir- 
ginia. Lewis  Jones,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  and  after  attaining 
to  mature  years  wedded  Nancy  Boston,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion.  In  an  early  day 
they  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Brown  County. 
In  1829  they  went  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Shelby 
County  when  it  was  almost  an  unbroken  wilder- 
ness. In  the  midst  of  the  forest  the  father  hewed 
out  a  farm,  clearing  the  land  of  the  timber,  fenc- 
ing it  and  making  many  good  improvements.  His 
death  there  occurred  in  1845.  His  wife  survived 
him  for  a  number  of  years,  and  with  her  son  came 
to  Illinois,  spending  her  last  days  in  Jasper  County, 
where  she  died  in  February,  1858. 

William  M.  Jones  is  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  twelve  children  who  grew  to  mature 
years.  There  were  six  sons  and  six  daughters, 
and  with  the  exception  of  one  sister,  all  married 
and  became  heads  of  families,  but  our  subject  is 
now  the  only  survivor.  The  record  of  his  life  is 
as  follows:  He  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  and  in  his  early  life 
no  event  of  special  importance  occurred.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  later  engaged  in  teaching,  following  that  pro- 
fession for  ten  years  during  the  winter  season. 
On  the  18tti  of  July,  1839,  Mr.  Jones  was  united 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


477 


in  marriage  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  with  Miss 
Frances  A.  Wycoff,  who  was  born  in  Kendall 
County,  Ky.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet Wycoff.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Virginia,  but  became  very  early  settlers  of  Kendall 
County,  Ky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  farm.  For  some  time  after 
their  marriage,  he  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of 
his  land  during  the  summer  months,  and  in  the 
winter  season  was  employed  in  teaching  school  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  made  his  home.  In 
1849  he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  Illinois. 
Carrying  out  his  plan,  he  became  a  resident  of  Jas- 
per County,  entered  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres 
of  land  and  located  upon  the  farm  which  lias 
since  been  his  home.  It  was  an  unimproved  tract, 
but  he  plowed  and  planted  it  and  in  course  of 
time  the  raw  prairie  was  transformed  into  rich 
and  fertile  fields.  His  first  home  was  a  log  cabin 
with  a  clapboard  roof  and  a  mud  and  stick  chim- 
ney. They  suffered  many  of  the  inconveniences 
of  pioneer  life,  but  the  land  was  then  new  and  rich 
and  yielded  abundant  harvests,  so  that  their  finan- 
cial resources  were  increased  and  they  were  able 
to  add  many  comforts  and  luxuries  to  their  home. 
Mr.  Jones  has  also  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  from  time  to  time,  until  it  now  comprises 
six  hundred  acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  well  improved  with  all  the  accessories  of  a 
model  farm,  including  a  large  and  substantial  res- 
idence, good  barns  and  outbuildings,  an  orchard, 
etc. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Jones  lias  been  identified  with 
the  Democratic  party  for  a  number  of  years.  Orig- 
inally, he  was  an  old-line  Whig,  and  cast  his  first 
vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison.  Later,  he  voted 
for  Franklin  Pierce  and  has  since  supported  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Democracy,  except  on 
one  occasion,  when  he  refused  to  vote  for  Horace 
Greeley.  Mr.  Jones  has  held  a  number  of  local 
positions  of  honor  and  trust.  lie  was  appointed 
Township  Treasurer  and  served  for  six  consecutive 
years,  and  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  but 
after  one  year  resigned.  He  was  next  elected 
County  Treasurer  and  Assessor,  was  re-elected,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  for  six  years.  He  also 
filled  the  office  of  Circuit  Clerk  of  Jasper  County 


for  eight  consecutive  years.  In  whatever  position 
he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill,  Mr.  Jones  has 
proved  a  most  faithful  and  efficient  officer  and  won 
the  commendation  of  all  concerned  by  his  prompt 
discharge  of  duty. 

In  1886  Mr.  Jones  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  17th  of  De- 
cember, at  the  age  of  seventy.  She  was  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  and  had  proved  a  true  and  faithful 
helpmate  to  her  husband  for  forty-seven  years. 
Five  children  who  grew  to  mature  years  were  born 
of  that  union:  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Byron  Lewis,  a 
farmer  of  Jasper  County;  Frances  A.,  widow  of 
James  Freeman;  Minerva  Ellen;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Albert  Martin,  of  Jasper  County;  and  Thaddeus 
D.,  who  was  married  and  reared  a  family,  but  died 
in  August,  1887,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years. 
Four  children  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Jones  was  for  several  years  connected  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  For  forty-four  years  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  this  county,  and  has  not 
only  seen  its  growth  and  development,  but  has 
aided  in  its  progress  and  advancement.  He  has 
ever  borne  his  part  as  a  faithful  citizen,  and  the 
honorable,  upright  life  he  has  led  has  won  him  un- 
iversal confidence  and  esteem. 


EPHRAIM  MASON,  one  of  the  representa- 
tive and  progressive  citizens  of  North 
Muddy  Township,  Jasper  County,  is  engaged 
in  farming  on  section  10.  As  he  is  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  this  community,  we  feel  assured 
that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers.  He  has  the  honor  of  being 
a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Edwards  County,  October  30,1861.  His  parents, 
John  and  Catherine  Mason,  are  mentioned  in  the 
sketch  of  Philip  Mason  on  another  page  of  this 
work. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  and  youth  of  our  subject,  which  were 
passed  in  attendance  at  the  district  schools  during 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  winter  season  and  in  farm  work  during  the 
summer  months.  He  was  early  inured  to  the  hard 
labors  of  the  farm,  and  in  consequence  when  he  be- 
gan life  for  himself  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
pursuit  which  he  has  since  followed. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1886,  a  marriage  ceremony 
was  performed  which  united  the  destinies  of  Mr. 
Mason  and  Miss  Lucy  A.  Crews,  a  daughter  of 
James  L.  and  Mary  A.  (Green)  Crews,  the  former 
a  native  of  Indiana,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Her 
parents  are  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  Jasper  County,  having  here  located  at  an  early 
day.  Her  mother  died  February  5,  1883,  but  her 
father  is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  Grove 
Township,  and  is  one  of  the  honored  and  respected 
citizens  of  the  county.  He  is  well  advanced  in 
years  but  still  manages  his  farm  and  looks  after  his 
business  interests.  Three  children  graced  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  a  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  Mabel,  their  second  child,  died  when 
three  months  old.  John,  Chester  and  Nellie  are 
still  living  and  are  the  light  and  life  of  the  parents' 
home. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Mason  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  belonging  to  Wheeler  Lodge  No.  130,  I.  O. 
O.  F.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Democratic  party,  but  takes  no  active 
part  in  political  affairs.  However,  he  has  served 
for  some  years  as  School  Director,  and  is  now  fill- 
ing that  office. 

Mr.  Mason  is  engaged  in  operating  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead. It  is  all  well  improved  with  a  commodious 
and  substantial  residence,  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings  found  upon  a  model  farm.  His  land 
is  all  well  fenced  and  drained,  and  the  rich  and 
fertile  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute.  In 
connection  with  this  properly  he  also  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  prairie  land  in 
Grove  Township,  and  forty  acres  of  timberland  in 
North  Muddy  Township.  Besides  his  farming,  he 
deals  in  stock,  raising  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  to 
quite  an  extent.  He  also  raises  fine  poultry  and 
expects  to  carry  on  that  line  of  business  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale.  By  good  management  and  well-di- 
rected efforts,  Mr.  Mason  has  won  a  handsome 


competence  and  is  numbered  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  Jasper  County.  His  home  is  pleasantly 
situated  about  a  mile  and  a-tialf  north  of  Wheeler, 
and  he  and  his  estimable  wife  have  made  it  the 
abode  of  hospitality. 


?ILLIAM  LAYTON,  proprietor  of  a  livery 
and  feed  stable  in  Wheeler,  Jasper  Coun- 
ty, and  at  present  Justice  of  the  Peace,  is 
a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State.  He  was  born  near 
Piketon,  Pike  County,  Ohio,  August  27,  1818,  and 
is  one  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters,  whose  parents  were  Asher  and  Re- 
becca (Davis)  Layton.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  but  during  his  boyhood  went  to 
Ohio  with  his  father,  Elias  Layton.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject  became  a  farmer  of  that 
State,  where  he  lived  until  called  to  his  final  rest 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Asher  served  as  a  sol- 
dier in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  married  in  the 
Buckeye  State  to  Miss  Davis,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  a  daughter  of  William  Davis,  who  was 
born  in  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  locating  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age. 
In  1842,  Asher  Layton  came  with  his  family  to 
Illinois  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
Knox  County,  on  Spoon  River.  He  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1843,  when  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Layton,  the  latter 
became  the  wife  of  John  Gafney,  who  died  in  Knox 
County.  Subsequently  she  removed  to  Etlingham 
County  and  resided  with  her  son  William  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond,  in  1859. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  upon 
his  father's  farm.  His  education  was  acquired  in 
the  public  schools  of  Pike  and  Highland  Coun- 
ties. After  attaining  to  mature  years  he  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  on  the  6th  of  March,  1840, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


479 


Miss  Mary  Jenkins,  fty  their  union  were  born 
nine  children,  namely:  John  D.,  Theodore,  Allen, 
Asher,  Branson,  Jackson,  James  E.,  Rebecca  Ann, 
and  a  daughter  who  died  in  infancj'.  All  are  now 
deceased  with  the  exception  of  John,  Theodore, 
Branson  and  Jackson.  The  first-named  married 
Miss  Jane  Fleming  and  resides  in  Moultrie  Coun- 
ty with  their  three  children,  Kittle,  William  and 
Edith.  Theodore,  who  wedded  Mary  Fleming,  by 
whom  he  had  eight  children,  Dora,  Drucilla 
Anna,  Franklin,  Claude,  Grace,  Cleveland  and 
Delia,  is  living  near  Cole's  Station,  Moultrie 
County.  Branson  married  Miss  Emma  Hamilton, 
and  with  their  children,  Maud  and  Jessie,  resides 
in  Urbana,  111.  Jackson  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Dakota.  He  was  there  married  and  has  six 
children:  William,  Frederick,  Theodore  H.,  John, 
Anna  and  an  infant.  Allen  was  joined  in  wedlock 
with  Miss  Libbie  Funk,  and  died  in  1887,  leaving 
five  children:  Calvin,  John,  Emma,  Myrtie  and 
Ora.  Mrs.  Mary  Lay  ton  was  called  to  her  final 
rest  in  1869.  Our  subject  was  again  married,  in 
1872,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Anna  Lay- 
ton,  widow  of  Perry  Layton,  his  cousin.  They 
had  one  child  but  it  died  in  infancy.  By  her  first 
union  Mrs.  Layton  had  two  sons:  Elias,  who  died 
in  infancy;  anil  William  Commodore,  a  hotel- 
keeper  of  Dietrich,  111.  The  latter  married  Miss 
Eliza  Wilson,  and  they  have  three  children:  Lena 
V.,  Grover  Cleveland  and  Ella. 

In  March,  1882,  Mr.  Layton  removed  from 
ErHngham  County  to  Wheeler,  which  at  that  time 
contained  only  two  houses.  He  served  as  section 
boss  on  the  Indiana  &  Illinois  Southern  Railroad 
for  a  time,  and  was  then  for  two  years  engaged  in 
the  livery  business.  After  an  interval  he  again 
embarked  in  the  livery  business,  which  he  now 
cnrrics  on.  In  the  meantime  he  carried  mail  for 
"Uncle  Sam"  for  four  and  a-half  years. 

In  18G2,  Mr.  Layton  enlisted  in  the  Sixty -sec- 
ond Illinois  Infantry  as  Regiment  Wagon-master, 
and  was  uniformed  and  sent  out  to  recruit.  He 
was  then  detailed  to  take  charge  of  the  horses,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  early  in  1865,  when 
he  was  placed  in  charge  of  one  hundred  and 
three  men,  whom  he  took  to  Little  Rock,  Ark.  Of 
this  number  fifty-five  were  placed  under  the  com- 


mand of  Capt.  Richardson,  and  the  remainder  un- 
der Mr.  Layton,  and  were  engaged  in  loading  and 
unloading  supplies  from  the  boats.  After  a  few 
weeks  Mr.  Layton  was  made  wharf-master  and 
served  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
In  his  political  affiliations  our  subject  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  is  now  holding  the  office  of  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  which  position  he  has  acceptably  filled 
for  eight  years.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  New- 
ton Lodge  No.  16,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Newton,  111. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  They  have  a  good  home  in  Wheeler, 
which  is  the  abode  of  hospitality.  The  latch- 
string  always  hangs  out,  and  their  many  friends 
are  always  sure  of  a  hearty  welcome.  Mr.  Lay  ton 
is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  and  in  the  years  of  Ins 
residence  here  he  has  won  the  high  regard  of  all 
with  whom  business  or  social  relations  have 
brought  him  in  contact. 


J~~?  OSIAH  E.  TAYLOR,  a  farmer  and  stock-rai- 

Jser  of  Claremont  Township,  residing  on 
section  6,  well  deserves  representation  in 
the  history  of  Richland  County,  for  he  is 
not  only  one  of  her  enterprising  and  progressive 
agriculturists,  but  is  one  of  her  native  sons.  He 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  near  Olney  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Doyle)  Taylor,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  In  the  Old  Dominion  the  fa- 
ther followed  farming,  and  from  there  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  and  subsequently  to  Illinois.  This  was 
in  1840.  He  took  up  his  residence  in  Richland 
County,  and  entered  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres 
three  miles  northwest  of  Olney,  now  known  as 
the  Welty  Place.  There  he  cleared  the  land  and 
opened  up  a  farm,  upon  which  he  made  his  home 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  wife 
died  in  1853,  after  which  he  was  a  second  time 
married.  He  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  in 
1863. 

Our  subject  lost  his  mother  when  only  two  3rears 


480 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  age,  and  was  left  an  orphan  at  tbe  age  of  twelve. 
He  then  went  to  live  with  David  D.  Guston,  with 
whom  lie  remained  for  a  year.  It  was  in  1865 
that  lie  determined  to  seek  a  home  elsewhere,  and 
went  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where  he  spent  the  six  suc- 
ceeding years  of  his  life,  employed  in  confection- 
ery stores  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  He 
had  had  good  educational  advantages  before  go- 
ing West,  and  his  business  experience  has  made 
him  a  well-informed  man.  Being  thus  early 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  he  also  developed 
a  self-reliance  and  force  of  character  which  have 
proven  invaluable  factors  in  his  success  in  life. 
From  Denver  he  went  to  Trinidad,  Colo.,  where 
he  engaged  in  stock-dealing  for  a  period  of  six 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he  sold 
out,  and  in  1877  returned  to  Olney  and  spent  a 
short  time  in  visiting  old  friends  in  this  commu- 
nity. In  the  spring  of  the  same  year,  1877,  he 
again  went  West,  this  time  becoming  a  resident  of 
Coif  ax  County,  N.  M.,  where  he  purchased  a 
ranch  and  engaged  in  stock  business,  being  thus 
employed  for  more  than  six  years,  after  which  he 
again  sold  out  and  once  more  returned  to  the 
country  of  his  nativity,  in  1883.  Purchasing  a 
farm  in  Clarernont  Township  of  one  hundred  and 
seventj'-five  acres  of  improved  land,  he  engaged 
in  its  cultivation  in  connection  with  stock-raising. 
Mr.  Taylor  has  since  sold  off  a  part  of  that  prop- 
erty, and  has  bought  a  forty-acre  tract  of  timber- 
land.  He  has  also  bought  and  sold  several  other 
pieces  of  property,  but  now  owns  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  good  farming  land,  four  miles 
east  of  Olney.  He  has  set  out  an  orchard,  built  a 
neat  and  substantial  residence,  and  otherwise 
greatly  improved  the  place. 

In  November,  1881,  in  Macoupin  County,  111., 
Mr.  Taylor  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah 
Cotterell,  a  native  of  this  State.  She  was  born 
and  reared  in  Richland  County,  and  acquired  her 
education  in  Olney.  Her  father,  James  Cotterell, 
was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  this  locality. 
Three  children  grace  their  union,  namely:  Ethel 
M.,  Edna  R.  and  Tressy.  Mr.  Taylor  exercises 
his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  Democratic 
candidates  in  State  and  National  elections,  but  in 
local  politics  is  independent,  casting  his  ballot  for 


the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  for  the 
office.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Claremont 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Taylor  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  three 
consecutive  terms,  and  believes  that  the  best  in- 
terests of  good  citizenship  are  to  be  secured  by 
the  foundation  of  a  good  education.  Starting 
out  in  life  empty-handed,  as  he  did,  Mr.  Taylor 
deserves  great  credit  for  his  success  in  life.  He 
has  met  with  obstacles  and  difficulties,  but  with  a 
determined  effort  and  never-faltering  purpose,  he 
has  overcome  these,  and  with  renewed  strength, 
which  always  comes  from  conquering  obstacles,  he 
has  pushed  onward  until  he  has  gained  a  place,  not 
only  among  the  substantial,  but  also  among  the 
most  highly  respected,  citizens  of  Richland  County. 


RRIN  R.  McDANlEL,  who  owns  and  op- 
erates a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eleven  acres  on  section  23,  Banner  Town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  prominent  and  representative 
agriculturists  of  Effingham  County.  He  has  the 
honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Edgar  County  April  17,  1835. 
His  father,  Josiah  McDaniel,was  born  in  Randolph 
County,  N.  C.,  in  August,  1810.  and  there  remained 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miriam  Swafford,  who  was  born 
in  Guilford  County,  N.  C.,  in  1813.  She  was  of 
Welsh  and  German  extraction.  Her  parents  were 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  Edgar  County, 
111. 

In  the  fall  of  1834,  soon  after  his  marriage, 
Josiah  McDaniel,  accompanied  by  his  young  wife, 
joined  his  father's  family  on  their  emigration  to 
this  State  and  located  in  Edgar  County,  where  he 
entered  land  from  the  Government  and  opened  up 
the  farm  upon  which  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1878.  He  was 
among  the  first  settlers  of  that  locality  and  was  a 
man  of  prominence  in  the  community.  His  wife 
died  in  Saline  County,  Ark.,  in  1854.  This  worthy 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


couple  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, six  of  whom  are  living.  James  H.  is  a  lead- 
ing farmer  of  Edgar  County;  Susanna  is  the  wife 
of  Philip  Mason,  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Samuel  W. 
is  the  next  younger;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Adam 
Fulton,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Missouri;  and  Alston  B.  is  a  prosperous  fanner  of 
Missouri. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  remained  at  home  until  his  mother's 
death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  about  nineteen 
years  of  age.  He  then  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. His  educational  privileges  were  only  those 
afforded  by  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  native  county. 
On  leaving  home,  he  joined  a  surveying  company 
on  the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad  and  worked  from 
Little  Rock,  Ark.,  to  the  Texas  line,  which  required 
about  six  months.  He  then  followed  various  pur- 
suits whereby  he  might  earn  an  honest  livelihood 
until  April  3,  1856. 

At  New  Orleans  Mr.  McDaniel  enlisted  in  the 
regular  army  and  was  sent  to  San  Antonio,  Tex., 
where  he  was  assigned  to  Company  F,  First  Regi- 
ment of  Mounted  Rifles,  and  went  to  Ft.  Duncan, 
Tex.  After  remaining  there  two  months,  he  went 
with  his  company  to  Ft.  Craig,  N.  M.,  which  was 
his  headquarters  until  he  received  his  discharge, 
April  3,  1861.  He  made  several  expeditions 
through  Nevada  and  other  frontier  points  and  was 
in  the  engagement  on  September  11,  12,  13,  14, 
and  29,  1858,  against,  the  Navago  Indians.  On 
receiving  his  discharge,  he  returned  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  with 
his  brother  until  December,  1863,  when  he  joined 
the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  H,  Sixty-fourth  Illi- 
nois Sharpshooters.  He  and  Harry  J.  Stoner  re- 
cruited the  company  in  Edgar  County.  After  nine 
months'  field  service,  Mr.  McDaniel  returned  home 
on  a  recruiting  trip,  and  on  account  of  a  cold  which 
he  had  contracted  in  his  eyes,  which  injured  his 
sight,  he  was  unable  to  return.  He  was  never  dis- 
charged. He  was  almost  entirely  blind  for  two 
years,  and  has  now  lost  the  sight  of  one  of  his 
eyes  entirely  and  the  other  is  badly  affected. 

In  August,  1867,  Mr.  McDaniel  secured  a  posi- 
tion with  a  medicine  firm  of  Indianapolis  as  sales- 
man and  traveled  fourteen  years,  after  which  he 


came  to  Effingham  County.  He  has  since  engaged 
in  farming  and  has  a  pleasant  home,  conveniently 
located  about  three  miles  from  Shumway.  His 
farm  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1866,  Mr.  McDaniel  married 
Miss  Mary  Givens,  of  Edgar  County.  She  died 
December  31,  1889,  leaving  one  child,  Lucy  M. 
In  February,  1890,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Nora  V.  Week,  who  was  born  August  24,  1872. 
Two  children  grace  this  union,  Lora  R.  and  Orrin  P. 

Our  subject  is  a  stanch  Democrat  in  politics  and 
has  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  his 
township  for  twelve  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  for  seven  years,  and  his  long- 
continued  service  indicates  his  prompt  and  faith- 
ful discharge  of  duty.  He  is  alike  true  to  every 
public  and  private  trust,  and  as  he  was  a  faithful 
servant,  he  is  also  a  valued  and  representative 
citizen,  well  deserving  of  representation  in  the 
history  of  his  adopted  county. 


ROF.  OSEI  J.  BAINUM,  Superintendent  of 
the  Olney  public  schools,  is  a  native  of 
Richland  County,  Ohio.  He  is  the  son  of 
a  well-known  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Bainum,  who  has  held  pastorates  in  Cleveland 
(Ohio),  Indianapolis  and  Greencastle  (Ind.),  and 
now  spends  a  few  of  his  riper  years  as  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Bement,  111. 

When  Prof.  Bainum  was  young,  he  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  the  public  schools  of  the  city  of 
Cleveland,  which  were  at  that  time  regarded  as 
being  in  the  front  rank  of  the  best  in  the  land. 
Here  he  advanced  through  the  regular  grades  until 
he  had  entered  the  first  year  of  the  High  School. 
His  father  at  this  time  having  removed  to  Indian- 
apolis, Ind,  he  was  placed  for  a  year  in  the  North- 
western Christian  University.  A  little  later  he 
entered  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Normal,  111., 
and  was  duly  graduated  therefroin  in  1878,  after 
having  gained  quite  an  experience  in  teaching  va- 


482 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


rious  schools  during  the  time  lie  was  a  student  in 
the  Normal  University.  Two  years  after  this 
graduation,  Prof.  Bainum  became  Principal  of  the 
Olney  High  School,  he  having  already  gained  a 
reputation  as  an  enthusiastic  and  successful  teacher 
while  in  charge  of  the  schools  of  Calhoun  and  Fair- 
view,  111.  After  abundant  proof  of  his  rare  quali- 
fications, both  as  a  teacher  and  as  manager  of  ed- 
ucational affairs,  he  closed  his  five  years  of  service 
in  the  High  School  to  become  Superintendent  of 
the  Olney  public  schools. 

Such  have  been  the  skill  and  success  with  which 
these  schools  have  been  managed  that  our  subject 
has  been  continued  therein  from  year  to  year  until 
the  present  time,  1893.  Thirteen  years  in  the  two 
positions  combined  have  been  given  to  this  service 
in  the  city  of  Olney.  During  these  years  many 
young  men  and  women  have  been  graduated  un- 
der his  eye  and  care,  and  have  gone  forth  to  va- 
rious professions  and  fields  of  usefulness.  Under 
his  efficient  administration,  always  sustained  by 
the  worthy  citizens  on  the  Board,  Olney 's  public 
schools  have  advanced  to  the  veiy  front  rank  of 
schools  in  the  State.  Olney  has  reason  to  be  proud 
of  her  educational  institutions  and  facilities.  A 
large,  fine  brick  building  has  been  furnished  with 
all  the  best  modern  appliances.  Apparatus  for  il- 
lustrations in  chemical  and  physical  science,  electri- 
cal illustrative  fixtures,  and  a  chemical  laboratory, 
are  among  the  many  additions,  together  with  a 
geological  collection  of  several  thousand  speci- 
mens. The  primary  department  is  supplied  with  the 
modern  kindergarten  devices,  and  the  intermedi- 
ate grades  with  abundance  of  maps,  charts  and 
supplementary  reading  matter. 

To  their  appreciation  of  Prof.  Bainum's  educa- 
tional work,  the  people  of  Olney  continue  to  tes- 
tify from  year  to  year  by  re-employing  him  at  in- 
creased remuneration.  The  school  now  enrolls 
about  twelve  hundred  pupils  in  all  the  grades,  in- 
cluding eighty  in  the  High  School,  over  which 
Mr.  L.  W.  Shryock,  himself  a  graduate,  worthily 
and  efficiently  presides.  The  teachers  number 
eighteen,  all  ladies  except  the  gentleman  named 
above. 

Prof.  Bainum  is  of  medium  height,  is  slight  in 
person  and  is  never  physically  strong  in  appearance. 


lie  has  a  fine,  clear  mind,  and  a  cultivated  literary 
taste.  His  marked  success  as  a  teacher  lies  in  the 
ability  and  energy  with  which  he  works;  in  the 
full  mastery  of  that  which  he  attempts;  in  that 
love  of  study  which  he  inspires  in  pupils  who 
come  under  his  immediate  care;  in  the  tact  and 
skill  with  which  government  is  conducted;  and, 
last  but  not  least,  in  that  enthusiastic  love  of 
teaching  and  of  those  who  desire  to  be  taught, 
which  manifests  itself  most  to  them  who  know 
him  best. 


ERCY  HOSPITAL,  of  Effingham,  was  built 
about  the  year  1866,  by  St.  Anthony's 
congregation  of  that  city,  and  under  the 
'auspices  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Baltes. 
of  this  diocese.  Six  acres  of  ground  within  the 
city  limits  were  donated  by  Mathias  Moenlng. 
The  institution  is  under  the  control  of  the  Fran- 
ciscan Sisters  of  Mercy  and  is  open  to  all  classes 
and  denominations.  The  building  was  erected  at 
a  cost  of  $15,  000,  and  is  located  just  west  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad.  It  is  complete  in  its 
appointments,  and  is  ably  and  faithfully  managed. 
The  local  physicians  of  Effingham  donate  their 
services  to  the  care  of  its  patients  as  required. 


ARRY  B.  AUSTIN,  manager  of  the  Effing- 
V,  ham  Planing  Mill  Company,  and  one  of  the 
leading  and  progressive  business  men  of 
Effingham,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He 
was  born  in  Kenton  County,  on  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  and  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Susie  L. 
(Winter)  Austin.  A  sketch  of  his  father  appears 
on  another  page  of  this  work.  When  only  a  year 
old  our  subject  was  brought  by  his  parents  from 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


483 


Kentucky  to  Illinois,  the  family  locating  in  Jasper 
County,  where  they  resided  from  1863  until  the 
spring  of  1865,  when  they  came  to  Effinghatn 
County. 

Harry  Austin  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  adjacent  to  the  city, 
where  his  parents  still  reside.  He  attended  the 
city  schools  and  during  vacations  aided  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  father's  farm,  and  in  the  care  of 
the  dairy.  He  was  thus  employed  until  1884,  when, 
having  attained  his  majority,  he  left  home  and 
went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  two 
succeeding  years  of  his  life  in  the  architectural  iron 
business.  During  the  succeeding  five  years,  he  was 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  and  in  the 
milling  business  in  Alabama.  He  then  lef  uthe  South, 
returning  to  Effingham  on  the  4th  of  December, 
1891.  In  February  following,  he  took  charge  of 
the  building  of  the  Effingham  Planing  Mill  plant, 
which  is  owned  by  his  father  and  Uncle  Calvin, 
and  of  which  he  has  been  manager  from  the  start. 
A  sketch  of  the  Effingham  Planing  Mill  Company 
appears  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

On  the  18th  of  September,  1888,  in  Louisville, 
Kv.,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  H.  B.  Austin 
and  Miss  Nannie  Huston,  a  daughter  of  Col.  Sam 
Huston.  The  lady  was  born  in  Bloomfield,  Ky., 
her  father  being  a  cousin  of  his  illustrious  name- 
sake of  Texas  fame.  The  branch  of  the  Huston 
family  to  which  Mrs.  Austin  belongs,  has,  however, 
dropped  the  letter  "o"  from  the  original  spelling 
of  the  name,  which  was  Houston.  By  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 
interesting  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  Julia  Ju- 
niata  and  Edward. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Austin  is  a  Republican  supporting 
the  principles  of  the  party  with  which  he  has  been 
connected  since  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  are  highly  respected  citizens,  who 
hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles.  Mr. 
Austin  is  a  skilled  architect  and  mechanic,  and  as 
the  Planing  Mill  Company  makes  contracting  and 
building  an  important  feature  of  their  business, 
he  finds  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  as  manager  a 
free  field  for  his  talents.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
energy  and  ambition,  possessing  a  thorough  knowl- 


edge of  his  business,  and  is  making  the  industry 
of  which  he  has  charge  one  of  the  important  fac- 
tors of  Ettingham's  business  interests.  The  an- 
nual business  of  the  company  has  already  grown 
to  the  gratifying  figure  of  $75,  000,  with  the  pros- 
pect that  it  will  soon  reach  an  even  $100,  000.  This 
nuccess  is  largely  due  to  Mr.  Austin,  whose  excel- 
lent management,  perseverance  and  enterprise 
have  won  him  a  foremost  place  among  the  leading 
citizens  of  his  adopted  country. 


J/OSEPH  OCHS,  who  since  1884  has  been 
numbered  among  the  agriculturists  of  Rich- 
|  land  County,  is  now  engaged  in  the  opera- 
'  tion  of  his  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  on  section  7,  German  Township.  He 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  on  the  16th  of 
May,  1842,  and  is  of  German  descent,  his  grand- 
father, Valentine  Ochs,  and  his  father,  John  Ochs, 
having  both  been  natives  of  Germany.  Crossing 
the  briny  deep  when  the  latter  was  a  lad  of  twelve 
years,  they  became  early  settlers  of  Stark  County. 
There  John  grew  to  manhood,  and  when  he  had 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity  wedded  Mary  Weilcr, 
his  countrywoman.  She  had  come  with  her  fa- 
ther, Mathias  Weiler,  from  the  Fatherland  to  Amer- 
ica during  her  early  girlhood.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  lived  upon  a  farm  in  the  Buckeye  State 
for  several  years,  and  in  1844  traveled  Westward 
until  they  reached  what  is  now  Richland  County, 
111.  Mr.  Oehs  had  previously  been  to  Missouri, 
and  there  purchased  land,  but  afterwards  disposed 
of  it.  He  here  bought  eighty  acres,  and  from  time 
to  time  added  to  that,  until  his  possessions  aggre- 
gated five  hundred  acres.  There  was  a  cabin  upon 
his  first  purchase,  and  it  became  the  home  of  the 
family  for  several  years,  but  at  length  was  re- 
placed by  a  large  and  handsome  residence.  Other 
improvements  were  also  made,  and  the  homestead 
became  one  of  the  best  and  most  desirable  farms 
in  the  community.  The  father  passed  away  in 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


September,  1887,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years, 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  wife  died 
in  1879,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  They  were 
buried  in  St.  Joseph's  Catholic  Cemetery,  and  a 
marble  monument  marks  their  last  resting-place. 

Joseph  Ochs  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters.  With 
the  exception  of  the  youngest  child,  all  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood  and  were  married.  The 
eldest,  D.  J.,  died  at  his  home  in  Jasper  County; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  D.  Ginder,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work;  Henry  operates  a 
farm  adjoining  that  of  his  brother;  Frank  is  an 
agriculturist  of  Jasper  County;  Ambrose  follows 
the  same  business  in  Jasper  County;  Theodore  is 
a  miller,  living  at  Straight  Creek,  Jackson  County, 
Kan ;  D.  P.  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Jasper  County;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Simon 
Schneider,  of  German  Township;  Josephine  is  in 
St.  John's  Hospital,  in  Springfield,  111. 

When  a  child  of  two  years,  our  subject  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  upon  the  old 
homestead  passed  the  days  of  his  youth  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  After  attaining"  his 
majority,  he  traveled  through  Missouri,  Iowa,  Ind- 
iana and  Illinois,  working  at  various  employments 
at  which  he  might  earn  an  honest  living,  but  en- 
gaged mostly  in  brick-laying  and  carpentering. 
Several  years  were  passed  in  that  way.  In  1869, 
he  returned,  and  was  united  in  marriage  in  Jasper 
County  with  Anna,  daughter  of  Paul  Gumble. 
The  lady  is  a  native  of  Germany,  but  spent  the 
greater  part  of  her  maidenhood  in  Richland  County. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Ochs  purchased  a  farm  in 
Fox  Township,  Jasper  County,  and  operated  it  for 
twelve  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  old  home, 
taking  care  of  his  father  and  managing  the  farm.  He 
has  since  sold  his  property  in  Jasper  County,  and, 
purchasing  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs,  has  suc- 
ceeded to  the  ownership  of  the  old  homestead.  This 
is  a  valuable  and  well-improved  place,  pleasantly 
located  about  nine  miles  from  Olney. 

Mr.  Ochs  is  independent  in  local  politics,  but  on 
questions  of  national  importance  votes  with  the 
Democratic  party.  By  his  first  Presidential  ballot 
he  supported  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  in  1864. 
He  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  forty- 


nine  long  years,  and  is  numbered  among  its 
honored  early  settlers.  He  has  always  borne  his 
part  in  the  work  of  public  improvement,  and  the 
community  recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen. 

In  1881,  our  subject  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  8th  of  July, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  St.  Marie's  Catholic  Ceme- 
tery of  Jasper  County,  where  a  beautiful  monu- 
ment has  been  erected  to  her  memory.  They  had  a 
family  of  four  children,  Frances,  Clara,  Daniel  and 
Paul,  who  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  The 
father  and  his  family  are  members  of  St.  Joseph's 
Catholic  Church.  The  Ochs  household  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality,  and  the  many  friends  of  the 
family  are  always  sure  to  receive  a  hearty  wel- 
come there,  while  the  stranger  and  the  needy  are 
never  turned  empty-handed  from  the  door. 


ON.  JAMES  W.  GIBSON  is  the  senior  mem- 
Jl  ber  of  the  firm  of  Gibson  &  Johnson,  of 
Newton.  This  is  the  leading  law  firm  of 
Jasper  County,  and  as  a  jurist  Mr.  Gibson 
occupies  a  front  rank  at  the  county  Bar.  He  is 
also  numbered  among  the  prominent  and  inlluen- 
tial  citizens  of  this  community,  and  as  such  well 
deserves  representation  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Gibson  claims  Michigan  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Detroit, 
October  26, 1845.  His  father,  William  Gibson,  was 
born  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  early  life.  The  mother  was  a  native  of 
New  York.  On  crossing  the  Atlantic,  William 
Gibson  first  settled  in  Canada,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  Oakland  County,  Mich.,  and  later  went 
to  Detroit.  He  entered  the  United  States  service 
for  the  Mexican  War  as  a  member  of  the  Third 
United  States  Dragoons,  and  was  killed  in  a  cavalry 
skirmish  in  Mexico  in  1848.  His  widow  still  sur- 
vives him  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Grand  Rapids, 
Mich. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


485 


youth  in  Oakland,  Mich.,  where  he  attended  the 
public  schools  until  iifteen  years  of  age,  when  lie 
came  to  Illinois.  This  was  in  1861,  and  he  located  in 
Olney,  Richland  County,  and  there  again  pursued 
his  studies  until  his  arrival  in  Newton,  Jasper 
County,  in  1863.  It  became  his  desire  to  make  the 
practice  of  law  his  life  work,  and  to  fit  himself  for 
the  legal  profession  he  began  studying  under  the 
preceptorship  of  his  uncle,  Isaac  Gibson.  Having 
been  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  October,  1867,  he  at 
once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Newton.  After  ten  years'  private  practice  he  was 
elected  in  the  autumn  of  1877  to  the  position  of 
County  Judge  of  Jasper  County,  and  was  re-elected 
and  held  that  office  for  nine  years. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  1870,  Judge  Gibson 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Newton  with  Miss  Vindia 
C.  Brooks,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Brooks. 
Her  father  is  now  deceased,  but  her  mother  is  still 
living  and  is  a  resident  of  this  place.  Mrs.  Gibson 
was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ind.,  and  came  to 
Jasper  County  with  her  parents  in  childhood.  She 
is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  Three  children  were  born 
unto  the  Judge  and  his  wife,  but  only  two  are  now 
living,  Lela  and  Ralph.  Launce,  the  eldest,  died 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  months. 

In  politics,  Judge  Gibson  is  a  Democrat,  and  in 
company  with  Frank  L.  Shup  published  the  Newton 
Press,  the  leading  Democratic  paper  of  the.ooonty, 
in  which  he  was  half-owner  from  1886  until  March, 
1893,  when  Mr.  Shup  purchased  his  interest,  be- 
coming sole  proprietor. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1882,  he  formed  the 
existing  partnership  with  Hale  Johnson,  the}'  doing 
a  law,  real-estate,  loan  and  collection  business. 
While  comparatively  a  young  man,  the  Judge  is 
an  experienced  and  successful  lawyer,  and  one  of 
the  oldest  in  years  of  practice  at  the  Jasper  County 
Bar.  His  course  as  County  Judge  was  distin- 
guished by  promptness,  ability  and  fidelity  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties.  As  a  lawyer  he  has  built 
up  a  large  and  successful  practice,  and  takes  rank 
among  the  ablest  in  the  profession  in  southern 
Illinois.  The  firm  of  which  he  is  a  member  always 
gets  a  Idrge  share  of  the  important  cases  on  the 
calendar  at  each  term  of  court,  and  enjoys  an  ex- 


tensive practice.  Judge  Gibson  is  peculiarly 
strong  as  a  trial  lawyer  in  the  examination  of  wit- 
nesses, and  in  the  presentation  and  management 
of  cases  in  court  he  has  no  superior  in  this  section 
of  the  State.  He  possesses  excellent  ability  as  a 
writer,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  and  for  some  years 
contributed  liberally  to  the  columns  of  the  New 
York  Weekly,  Literary  Mirror,  and  Cincinnati  En- 
quirer, and  later  to  the  Newton  Press,  while  he  was 
associate  editor  of  that  paper. 


/      •"  ocy!x~sSite;§-"'  "$/;, 


HILIP  PETER  BAUER,  deceased, an  hon- 
ored pioneer  of  Richland  County,  who  lo- 
cated here  in  the  spring  of  1841,  was  born 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  in  1804, 
and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native  coun- 
try. When  twenty  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to 
America,  landing  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  made  his 
home  at  first  in  the  Keystone  State  and  was  there 
first  married.  He  lost  that  wife  and  was  again 
married,  his  second  wife  being  Miss  Mary  Dundore, 
a  daughter  of  Philip  Dundore.  She  was  a  native 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  was  of  German  descent. 

Mr.  Bauer  removed  with  his  family  to  Jerome- 
ville,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  what  is  now  Olney 
in  the  spring  of  1841.  He  was  a  cabinet-maker  by 
trade  and  worked  at  that  business  for  several  years, 
in  connection  with  which  lie  at  the  same  time 
operated  a  large  farm.  In  1856  he  sold  his  farm 
and  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Olney,  buying 
out  the  stock  of  Henry  Spring.  The  following 
year  his  wife  died,  and  in  1858  he  sold  out  his 
stock  of  goods  and  resumed  farming  in  Olney 
Township,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  old  More- 
house  Place. 

Mr.  Bauer  was  married  a  third  time,  his  last 
wife  bearing  the  maiden  name  of  Margaret  Rich- 
art.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  one  child,  who  is 
yet  living,  Henry  L.,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  St. 
Louis.  By  the  second  union  six  children  were 
born,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Sarah  was  the 
wife  of  Wesley  J.  Wolf,  and  is  now  deceased; 


486 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


William,  the  second  child,  is  a  druggist  of  Olney, 
and  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Albert 
is  a  resident  of  Danville,  III.;  Philip  P.  makes  his 
home  in  Marion,  Ind.;  and  George  W.  is  a  druggist 
of  Olney.  The  other  child  died  in  childhood.  By 
the  last  marriage  there  were  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  Gideon,  who 
resides  on  the  homestead  farm;  Minnie,  now  the 
wife  of  Barney  Schrefler,  of  Joliet;  Mary,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  L.  E.  Reed,  of  Kankakee,  111.,  and 
is  now  deceased;  and  Charlie,  also  deceased. 

Mr.  Bauer  continued  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  August,  1873.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  Democrat  in  early  life  but  later  became  a 
Republican.  He  was  an  active  and  influential 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Association  and  was  a 
widely  known  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of  this 
community. 


K.  GOSNELL,  who  for  more  than 
forty  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper 
County,  now  follows  agricultural  pursuits 
on  section  17,  Wade  Township.  He  dates  his  resi- 
dence here  from  1852.  He  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ky.,  April  10,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Susan  (King)  Gosnell,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Virginia.  The}'  were  married  in  their  na- 
tive State,  and  thence  removed  to  Kentucky,  where 
Mr.  Gosnell  cleared  and  developed  a  farm.  In 
1839,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he  went  to  Rush 
Count}',  Ind.,  where  he  again  opened  up  a  large 
farm,  and  there  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life.  Ilis 
home  was  then  on  the  frontier,  and  he  engaged  in 
some  of  the  Indian  wars. 

George  Gosnell,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  he  went  to  Rush 
County,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  Under 
the  parental  roof  he  remained  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  In  February,  1852,  in  Rush  County,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  Campbell,  a  na- 
tive of  that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Nancy  Campbell,  The  wedding  tour  of  the  young 


couple  consisted  of  a  trip  to  Illinois.  They  ar- 
rived in  Jasper  County  on  the  1st  of  October, 
1852,  and  Mr.  Gosnell  entered  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  where  he  now  resides,  and 
also  a  timbered  tract,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres.  The  land  was  in  its  primitive  con- 
dition, not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or  an  im- 
provement made,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he 
began  its  development.  He  plowed  and  planted, 
and  in  course  of  time  rich  and  fertile  fields  yielded 
to  him  abundant  harvests.  lie  built  a  good  hewed- 
log  house,  and  lived  in  true  pioneer  style,  for  Jas- 
per County  was  tbeu  on  the  frontier.  All  kinds 
of  wild  game  could  be  had  in  abundance, and  deer 
were  frequently  seen  in  great  droves.  There  were 
also  many  wolves.  As  the  years  passed,  however, 
civilization  changed  all  this,  and  with  the  onward 
march  of  progress  Mr.  Gosnell  kept  pace  until  he 
had  transformed  his  wild  land  into  one  of  the  best 
farms  of  the  community.  The  log  cabin  has  long 
since  given  place  to  a  comfortable  frame  residence, 
and  other  substantial  improvements  have  been 
added. 

By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  six 
children  were  born,  and  are  now  all  married  and 
heads  of  families.  William  C.  and  John  are  both 
farmers  of  this  county;  Nancy  is  the  wife  of  George 
Matheney,  of  Jasper  County;  Zelda  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Mann;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jackson  Du- 
mont;  and  Richard  is  a  farmer  of  this  community. 
There  are  also  twenty-four  living  grandchildren. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1885,  and  Mr. 
Gosnell  has  since  wedded  Mrs.  Caroline  Burgund,  a 
widow,  who  was  born  in  this  county,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Robert  Polys.  The  marriage  was  cele- 
brated January  4,  1889.  The  lady  has  one  daugh- 
ter by  her  former  marriage,  Julia  M.  Burgund. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Gosnell  was  an  old-line  Whig, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
he  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  its  principles. 
Our  subject  is  a  friend  to  all  educational,  social 
and  moral  interests  calculated  to  benefit  the  com- 
munity, and  is  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen, 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  locality.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  For 
forty-one  long  years  Mr,  Gosnell  has  been  a  wit- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


487 


ness  of  the  growth  and  development  of  Jasper 
County,  and  has  aided  greatly  in  its  progress.  He 
is  well  numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers,  and 
justly  deserves  representation  in  its  history. 


DROP.  ROBERT  N.  STOTLER,  Cashier  of 
!  the  First  National  Bank  of  Olney,  and 
•*— Y  Superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 

J  \  Richland  County,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  this  community.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  county  since  1858,  or  since 
his  eighth  year.  He  was  born  in  Clinton  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  April,  1850,  his  parents 
being  Isaac  and  Mary  (Skimming)  Stotler.  His 
father  was  born  in  Cumberland  Count}',  Md.,  and 
his  mother  was  a  native  of  Scotland.  They  emi- 
grated Westward  in  1858  to  Richland  County,  111., 
and  settled  near  Dundas  upon  a  farm.  The  mo- 
ther died  in  1876,  and  the  father  passed  away  the 
following  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  district 
schools  near  Dundas  until  seventeen  years  of  age 
and  then  became  a  student  in  the  Northern  Illinois 
Normal,  at  Normal,  111.  He  began  teaching  at  the 
age  of  seventeen  years,  after  which  he  attended 
the  Normal,  as  just  stated,  for  six  terms.  Later 
he  became  a  student  in  the  National  Normal,  in 
Lebanon,  Ohio,  for  one  year.  He  then  resumed 
teaching,  to  which  profession  he  devoted  his  en- 
ergies for  about  twelve  years,  being  employed 
mostly  in  two  districts,  a  fact  which  indicates  his 
success  and  the  satisfaction  he  gave. 

Prof.  Stotler  has  occupied  a  number  of  official 
positions.  In  1881  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
County  Clerk  and  removed  to  Olney.  He  filled 
that  ollice  for  two  years,  and  then,  in  1883,  went 
into  the  First  National  Bank  as  its  cashier,  which 
position  ho  has  filled  continuously  since,  covering 
a  period  of  ten  years.  He  is  ably  fitted  for  the 
position,  and  the  success  of  the  bank  is  due  in  no 
little  degree  to  the  efficient  services  of  our  sub- 
ject. Mr.  Stotler  was  elected  Superintendent  of 


the  public  schools  of  Richlund  County  in  1882,  re- 
elected  in  1886,  and  again  in  1890,  and  is  now 
serving  his  third  term.  He  has  eighty- four  schools 
under  his  care,  including  six  graded  schools,  and 
these  have  an  attendance  of  seven  thousand  pupils. 
In  August  of  each  year  he  holds  a  County  Normal 
Institute,  which  is  of  great  benefit  to  his  teachers. 
He  has  adopted  a  course  of  study  for  all  schools, 
and  OB  the  25th  of  March  holds  a  general  ex- 
amination. Under  his  administration  the  schools 
have  attained  a  high  standard  of  perfection,  and 
of  the  educational  facilities  which  they  offer  to  the 
young  the  citizens  of  Richland  County  may  well 
be  proud. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Stotler  is  a  Democrat.  Socially, 
he  is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  holding  member- 
ship with  all  the  bodies  of  that  order  in  Olney.  He 
also  belongs  to  Marmion  Lodge  No.  52,  K.  P.,  and 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  is  a 
member  and  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  In  connection  with  his  other  busi- 
ness interests,  Mr.  Stotler  is  interested  in  the 
Dundas  Mill.  He  owns  five  hundred  acres  of 
farming  land  located  in  Preston  and  Denver 
Townships,  and  has  a  seventy-live  acre  orchard 
planted  in  apples,  some  of  three  and  some  of  five 
years'  growth.  Mr.  Stotler  has  proved  a  very  able 
and  faithful  County  Superintendent  and  has  done 
much  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  cause  of 
education  in  Richland  County.  He  has  also  proved 
a  most  efficient  and  trustworthy  cashier  and  enjoys 
a  very  flattering  popularity,  regardless  of  party 
affiliations. 


SPELBRING,  who  is  engaged  in 

general  farming  on  section  4,  Wade  Town- 
ship,  was  born  on  the  6th  of  June,  1834,  in 
Wayne  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  son  of  George  Spel- 
bring,  Sr.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  there.  About 
1832  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  and  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  iu  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  but  after- 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ward  removed  to  Owen  County,  where  he  opened 
up  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  lie 
and  his  wife  both  spent  their  last  days  in  that 
locality. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  ill  Owen  County, 
and  in  his  youth  attended  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood,  which  afforded  him  his  educa- 
tional privileges.  After  his  father's  death  he  re- 
mained with  his  mother  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  He  was  married  in  Owen  County  De- 
cember 26,  1855,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Emerich,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Clay  County,  Ind.,  where  the  daughter  was  born. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
a  farm,  and  for  a  number  of  years  resided  either 
in  Owen  or  Clay  County.  It  was  in  1874  that 
they  caaie  to  Illinois  and  took  up  their  residence 
in  Grove  Township,  Jasper  County.  Mr.  Spel- 
bring purchased  a  small  farm,  which  was  but 
slightly  improved,  and  also  rented  a  large  farm, 
which  he  operated  for  three  years.  On  the  expi- 
ration of  that  time  he  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Arkansas.  Buying  a  small,  improved  place  in 
Clay  County,  he  began  farming,  but  after  raising 
two  crops  he  sold  out  and  took  a  trip  through 
Missouri  and  northern  Arkansas;  after  a  few 
weeks  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  again  settled  in 
Grove  Township,  Jasper  County.  Once  more  he 
purchased  a  small,  improved  farm,  which  he  oper- 
ated for  a  number  of  years.  In  the  autumn  of 
1886,  lie  purchased  his  present  homestead,  a  tract 
of  eighty  acres,  located  about  three  miles  from 
Newton.  The  improvements  were  indeed  few,  and 
the  residence  was  a  log  cabin,  but  it  has  been  re- 
placed by  a  neat  and  substantial  dwelling,  and 
tliis  improvement  has  been  supplemented  by  oth- 
ers in  the  shape  of  good  barns  and  outbuildings. 
Mr.  Spelbring  commenced  life  for  himself  a  poor 
man,  empty-handed,  but  by  his  own  labor,  enter- 
prise and  industry,  and  by  the  assistance  of  his  es- 
timable wife,  he  has  acquired  a  good  home  and 
valuable  farm,  and  is  to-day  classed  among  the 
well-to-do  agriculturists  of  the  community. 

Ten  children  have  graced  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Spelbring.  William  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farming  in  Indiana;  Edwin  is  married  and 


follows  the  same  pursuit  in  Jasper  County;  John 
is  also  married  and  operates  a  farm  adjoining  his 
father's;  Louis  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Piatt  County,  111.;  Daniel  is  married  and  engages 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  this  county;  Charles  is 
married  and  engages  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber in  Grove  Township,  Jasper  County;  and  the 
others  are  Thomas,  Cora  Ellen,  Clementine  and 
Albert. 

In  politics  Mr.  Spelbring  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  has  voted  for  each  of  the 
Presidential  candidates  of  that  party  since  casting 
his  first  ballot  for  James  Buchanan  in  1856.  lie 
has  never  sought  or  desired  the  honors  or  emolu- 
ments of  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests. 
The  community  in  which  he  lives  regards  Mr. 
Spelbring  as  a  valued  citizen,  and  he  is  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  man,  who  always  does  his 
part  in  aiding  in  public  enterprises. 


lit*®!! 


RURY  R.  LOVE,  an  enterprising  and  rep- 
resentative farmer  residing  on  section  12, 
Wade  Township,  has  the  honor  of  being 
a  native  of  Jasper  County,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  on  the  old  homestead  where  he  now 
resides,  January  21,  1862.  His  father,  John  M. 
Love,  was  born  in  Boone  County,  Ky.,  September 
4,  1819,  and  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Love,  wasalso 
a  native  of  that  county.  The  great-grandfather, 
John  Love,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  where  the 
family  was  founded  at  an  early  day  by  ancestors 
who  came  from  their  native  Ireland  to  America 
prior  to  the  Revolution.  John  M.  Love  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  childhood  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  Shelby  County.  He  received  a 
good  education  and  was  a  successful  teacher  in  his 
younger  years.  He  was  married  May  24,  1855,  to 
Harriet  Robinson,  who  was  born  in  Hamilton 
Countj7,  Ohio,  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  C. 
Robinson.  Soon  after,  Mr.  Love  removed  with 
his  young  wife  to  Illinois  and  purchased  one  lain- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


489 


dred  iind  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  timberland  in  Jasper 
County.  Building  a  substantial  log  house,  he  be- 
gan life  here  in  true  pioneer  style.  Hecommcnced 
fencing  and  breaking  the  land,  and  in  course  of 
time  had  a  good  farm,  but  in  those  first  years  the 
family  suffered  many  of  the  hardships  and  priva- 
tions incident  to  pioneer  life. 

Later,  as  his  financial  resources  increased,  Mr. 
Love  built  a  substantial  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, together  with  good  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings. He  was  a  successful  agriculturist  and 
soon  had  his  farm  in  good  shape,  lie  later  pur- 
chased more  land,  until  his  possessions  were  nearly 
five  hundred  acres.  His  business  ability  and  his 
industrious  efforts  won  him  a  well-merited  success. 
He  took  quite  an  active  part  in  political  affairs 
and  held  a  number  of  offices  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  served  as  Deputy  County  Surveyor  and  was 
afterward  elected  Surveyor  of  Jasper  County.  In 
whatever  position  he  was  called  upon  to  fill  he 
proved  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer.  In  politics 
he  was  a  stanch  Republican  and  always  supported 
the  men  and  measures  of  that  party,  and  socially, 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Newton. 
He  died  while  in  Peoria,  September  28,  1892,  and 
his  remains  were  interred  in  Newton  Cemetery. 
At  his  death  the  county  lost  a  valued  and  promi- 
nent citizen  and  one  of  its  leading  agriculturists. 
His  upright  character  and  sterling  worth  had  won 
him  high  regard,  and  his  loss  was  dee[^  mourned. 
His  wife  still  survives  him  and  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  with  our  subject.  She  is  an  estimable 
lady  and  has  many  warm  friends  in  this  commu- 
nity. 

Drury  Love,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  is 
the  only  surviving  son  of  John  M.  and  Harriet 
Love.  His  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  upon 
the  farm  where  he  yet  resides.  In  fact,  he  has 
known  no  other  home.  He  acquired  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Jasper  County,  and 
for  five  terms  successfully  engaged  in  teaching. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1888,  Mr.  Love  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cora  Vest,  a  native 
of  Clay  County,  Ind.,  who  came  to  Jasper  County 
when  a  maiden  of  twelve  summers  with  her  tathor, 
Joseph  E.  -Vest,  who  now  resides  at  Willow  Hill. 

25 


Her  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools, 
and  in  the  Newton  High  School,  from  which  she 
was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '86.  The  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  blessed  with  one 
daughter,  Ada  Clarissa,  a  bright  little  girl,  who  is 
the  joy  and  pet  of  the  household. 

Mr.  Love  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Hon.  James  G.  Blaine,  and  is  a  warm  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  public  office.  In  his 
social  relations  he  is  a  Mason,  belonging  to  New- 
ton Lodge  No.  216,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  is 
now  Master,  serving  the  second  year  in  this  posi- 
tion. In  the  county  of  his  nativity  he  has  a  wide 
acquaintance,  and  his  upright  career  and  well- 
spent  life  have  won  him  the  high  regard  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends.  The  Love  household  is  the  abode 
of  hospitality,  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social 
circles. 


ARR1S  WINTERRINGER,a  retired  farmer 
.  residing  in  Mason,  was  born  on  the  1st  of 
v  June,  1822,  near  Mt.  Vernon,  in  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  of  French  and  Dutch 
descent.  Both  the  paternal  and  maternal  grand- 
parents of  our  subject  were  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  followed  farming  in  that  State,  where 
the  latter,  Jacob  Baker,  died.  The  former,  Jesse 
Winterringcr,  died  in  Kncx  County,  Ohio,  when 
nearly  one  hundred  years  of  age.  The  parents  of 
our  subject,  Thomas  and  Catherine  (Baker)  Win- 
terringer,  were  both  natives  of  the  Keystone  Stale, 
but  in  early  childhood  removed  to  Ohio,  where 
they  were  married.  He  became  the  owner  of  a 
large  farm  and  acquired  quite  a  handsome  property. 
In  1853,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mason, 
where  he  lived  retired  until  his  death  in  1863,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  His  career  was  a 
prosperous  one,  and  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  he 
won  a  well-merited  success.  His  wife  survived 
him  two  years,  passing  away  at  the  age  of  sixty  - 
eight.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  were  highly  respected  citizens. 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The}'  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, hut  only  three  are  now  living:  Harris,  of 
tliis  sketch;  Sarah,  wife  of  Andrew  Bailey;  and 
Melvina,  wife  of  Ambrose  Kim  be  ft. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
upon  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  common 
schools  during  the  winter  season,  and  working  at 
home  during  the  summer  months.  On  the  26th of 
March,  1848,  he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Bailey,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  (Hammond)  Bailey.  Both  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  but  the  father  was  of 
Irish  lineage.  Seven  children  graced  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winterringer.  Sarah  E.,  the  only 
daughter  and  the  eldest  child,  became  the  wife  of 
John  Bains,  of  Mason,  and  they  had  two  sous  and 
two  daughters,  but  only  one,  Jennie,  is  now  liv- 
ing. Mr.  Bains  died  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  his 
widow  subsequently  married  Christopher  H.  Reh- 
ling,  of  Mason.  They  have  four  children,  all  yet 
living:  Crissie,  Katie,  Dora  and  Stella.  Frank- 
lin A.,  the  eldest  son  of  our  subject,  died  at  the 
age  of  eight  years.  William  A.,  who  wedded  Miss 
Amanda  Smith,  resides  with  his  wife  and  three 
children,  Maud,  Harry  and  John,  on  a  farm  near 
Mason.  Carrington  R.,  who  married  Miss  Alice 
Oberlin,  by  whom  he  has  five  children,  Delmer, 
Gale,  Ethel,  Eva  and  Elmer,  is  living  on  a  farm 
near  Arcola.  Elmer  W.  married  Miss  Ida  Hobbs, 
of  Mason,  and  they  reside  in  Arcola.  Louis  W. 
is  at  home;  and  John  R.  married  Miss  Flora  Cra- 
ver,  of  Mason.  They  have  one  child,  a  son. 

Having  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
West,  Mr.  Winterringer  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
1853,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Mason  Township, 
Efflngham  Count}1,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land.  He  resided  thereon  until 
1868,  and  with  the  exception  of  the  eldest  and 
youngest,  all  of  his  children  were  there  born.  In 
1868,  lie  removed  with  his  family  to  Nebraska 
City,  Neb.,  where  he  spent  two  years,  returning  in 
1870,  since  which  time  he  has  lived  in  Mason.  He 
was  an  enterprising  and  energetic  agriculturist, 
and  by  his  industiy  and  good  management  he  won 
a  considerable  competence.  Since  coming  to  Ma- 
son he  has  sold  his  farm,  but  owns  in  the  village  a 


good  home,  together  with  eight  town  lots.  During 
his  residence  here  he  has  worked  up  a  trade  as 
a  carpenter,  which  he  still  follows  to  some  extent, 
notwithstanding  his  advanced  age. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Winterringer  manifest- 
ed his  loyalty  to  the  Government  by  entering  the 
service  of  his  country.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  he 
donned  the  blue  and  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany E,  Fifty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  he 
served  for  about  two  years,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged for  disability.  He  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  New  Madrid  and  Corinth,  and  in  a  number  of 
skirmishes.  He  was  always  found  at  his  post  of 
duty  and  proved  himself  a  valiant  soldier.  He  is 
now  a  member  of  Ransom  Post  No.  99,  G.  A.  R., 
and  in  politics  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  been 
an  office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests,  and  to  the  en- 
joyment of  home  life.  Himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Their 
sterling  worth  and  many  excellencies  of  character 
have  won  them  high  regard  and  gained  them  the 
good-will  and  con  fidence  of  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


ON/tolLLIAM  GILLMORE  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  is  a  grain  and  hay  dealer  gf 
Edgewood.  He  is  also  one  of  the  most  ex- 
tensive land-owners  of  the  county  and  is  a 
prominent  and  influential  citizen,  widely  and 
favorably  knowg.  With  the  business  interests  of 
this  community  he  has  long  been  connected,  and 
in  all  the  relations  of  life  his  career  has  been  one 
of  such  integrity  and  honor  that  he  has  gained 
universal  confidence. 

Mr.  Gillmore  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ky., 
November  7,  1826.  His  grandfather,  William 
Gillmore,  Sr.,  was  a  fanner  of  Alabama  and  after- 
ward of  Kentucky,  in  which  State  he  spent  his  last 
days.  Jeremiah  Gillmore,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Alabama,  but  accompanied  his 
parents  to  Kentucky  when  a  child.  He  was  reared 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


491 


to  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  followed  that 
pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life.  He  married 
Mary  Landsaw,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Landsaw.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  thirteen  children,  seven  sons  and  six 
daughters,  ten  of  whom  are  now  living:  William, 
James  L.,  Andrew  II.,  Alfred  G.;  Julia,  widow  of 
John  Broom,  of  Edgewood;  Elizabeth,  widow  of 
John  McKeloy,  of  Edgewood;  George  W.,  Francis 
Marion,  Jasper,  and  Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of 
William  Reese.  The  father  of  this  family  came  to 
Illinois  in  1832,  locating  in  Marion  County,  where 
he  resided  for  (if teen  year?.  He  then  removed  to 
Fayette  County,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1868, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  thrifty  farmer,  a  valued  citizen,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  His  wife  died  in  1874,  at  the  age  of 
seventy. 

William  Gillmore,  of  this  sketch,  spent  the  first 
six  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  State,  and  then 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  where  he  has 
since  lived.  The  educational  privileges  which  he 
received  were  those  afforded  by  the  district  schools. 
lie  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  He  settled  upon  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  a  mile  and  a-half  west  of  Edgewood.  He 
obtained  the  land  from  the  Government  and*  it 
was  therefore  in  its  primitive  condition.  He  there 
built  the  first  cabin  which  was  erected  on  the 
prairie  in  what  is  now  known  as  West  Township. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  Gillmore  chose  Miss  Elizabeth  Coals,  their 
wedding  being  celebrated  in  June,  1848.  They 
had  two  children,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The 
other,  James  L.,  married  Nouvenia  Laudenberger. 
They  reside  upon  a  farm,  a  mile  and  a-half  from 
Edgewood,  and  have  four  children:  William, 
Annie,  Laura  and  Charles.  Mrs.  Gillmore,  wife 
of  our  subject,  died  in  1852.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  1854  Mr.  Gillmore 
married  Miss  Rhoda  Ann  Coals,  who  died  in  1878, 
and  in  1883  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Nancy  A.  Tunnan.  They  have  a  little  daughter, 
Maud  1). 

Mr.  Gillmore  devoted  his  time  and  attention  as- 


siduously to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  and  placed 
the  wild  prairie  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
As  his  financial  resources  increased,  he  also  added 
to  his  land,  until  he  now  owns  thirteen  hundred 
acres  in  this  county,  together  with  five  hundred 
acres  in  Jackson  County.  He  carries  on  farming 
and  also  deals  extensively  in  stock,  but  the  greater 
part  of  his  money  has  been  made  in  railroad  con- 
tracting. He  also  engaged  in  general  merchandis- 
ing for  upwards  of  twenty  3'ears,  but  has  now  re- 
tired from  that  line  of  trade.  Mr.  Gillmore  is  a 
man  of  excellent  business  ability,  sagacious  and 
far-sighted,  and  by  his  own  efforts  he  has  risen 
from  a  humble  position  to  one  of  wealth  and  afflu- 
ence. He  entered  official  life  as  Township  Super- 
visor, which  office  he  held  two  terms.  In  1862  he 
was  elected  Sheriff  of  the  county  and  was  elected 
at  each  succeeding  alternate  election  until  1874. 
In  that  year  he  was  elected  on  the  Democratic 
ticket  as  Representative  to  the  General  Assembly. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equal- 
ization for  eight  years.  His  public  and  private 
life  has  been  alike  above  reproach,  and  the  com- 
munity finds  in  Mr.  Gillmore  one  of  its  best,  as 
well  as  most  prominent,  citizens. 


I/  ESSE  R.  SHAFFER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
ii eral  farming  on  section  34,  Claremont  Town- 
ship, dates  his  residence  in  Rich  land  County 
from  1855.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Ind.,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  Shaffer,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  fa- 
ther,, who  was  of  German  descent,  was  married  in 
the  Keystone  State  to  Catherine  Witmer,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  soon  afterward 
emigrated  to  Indiana,  becoming  a  pioneer  of  Frank- 
lin County.  In  the  midst  of  the  forest  he  hewed 
out  a  farm,  upon  which  he  reared  his  family  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  carpen- 
ter by  trade,  but  followed  agricultural  pursuits  for 


492 


PORTRAIT  AND  B1OGRAI HICAL    RECORD. 


many  years.  His  dcatli  occurred  in  1837,  when 
our  subject  was  a  lad  of  about  twelve  years.  His 
wife  long  survived  him,  and  passed  away  in  1883, 
at  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-five  years.  She 
was  laid  by  his  side  in  Springfield  Cemetery,  Frank- 
lin County,  where  a  substantial  monument  marks 
their  last  resting-place. 

Jesse  Shaffer  is  one  of  a  famil}'  of  nine  sons  and 
two  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years 
and.  became  heads  of  families.  Five  sons  and  two 
daughters  are  still  living.  The  eldest,  Jacob,  is  liv- 
ing retired  in  Decatur  County,  Ind.;  Daniel  is 
also  retired  and  makes  his  home  in  the  same  county; 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Caleb  Shearer,  is  a  resident  of 
Decatur  County;  Jesse  is  the  next  younger;  Isaac 
makes  his  home  in  Illinois;  Joseph  is  located  in 
Franklin  County,  Ind.,  on  the  old  homestead; 
and  Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  Ward  well. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  old  homestead  farm 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 'and  in  the  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  acquired  a  good  education. 
He  remained  with  his  mother  and  aided  her  in 
carrying  on  the  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  To 
earn  his  livelihood  he  worked  by  the  month  as  a 
farm  hand  for  four  3'ears.  Ere  leaving  his  native 
county  he  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1854,  with 
Miss  Rachel  Shirk,  who  was  also  born  in  Franklin 
County.  They  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the 
farm  there,  but  after  a  year  came  to  Illinois,  in 
1855,  locating  in  Richland  County.  The  county 
was  then  but  sparsely  settled  and  bore  little  re- 
semblance to  the  Richland  County  of  to-day.  Mr. 
Shaffer  purchased  land  where  he  still  resides,  his 
farm  being  conveniently  located  about  eight  miles 
from  Olney.  He  first  bought  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  of  which  about  forty  acres  had  been 
broken.  The  fall  after  his  arrival  his  house  and 
all  its  contents  were  destro.yed  by  fire.  This  loss, 
added  to  the  hardships  and  difficulties  of  pioneer 
life,  made  those  first  days  very  dreary,  but  his 
neighbors  came  to  his  assistance  and  helped  him  to 
build  another  home.  His  own  indefatigable  labors 
transformed  the  raw  prairie  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields,  and  he  now  owns  three  hundred  acres  of 
valuable  land,  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 


He  has  built  a  pleasant  and  comfortable  residence 
and  good  outbuildings,  planted  an  orchard,  and 
made  other  improvement^  which  add  to  the  value 
and  attractive  appearance  of  the  place. 

Mr.  Shaffer  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  wife,  who  died  in  Indiana,  leaving  a  daugh- 
ter, Rebecca,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  William 
Beard,  a  merchant  of  Claremont.  Mr.  Shaffer  was 
again  married,  in  Franklin  County  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Martha,  a 
daughter  of  AYilliam  Cummins,  of  Franklin  County. 
They  have  five  children:  William  Henry,  who  is 
married  and  aids  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm;  Frances,  wife  of  James  Partlon,  of  Daviess 
County,  Ind.;  Charles  Elsworlh,  who  is  married 
and  resides  on  the  home  farm;  Luella  and  James 
Ora,  who  are  still  at  home.  The  parents  and  the 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr.  Shaffer  is  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  For  thirty-eight  long 
years  he  has  resided  in  Richland  County,  and  is 
numbered  among  its  honored  early  settlers.  We 
find  in  our  subject  a  self-made  man,  who  to  his 
own  efforts  can  attribute  his  success  in  life,  as  he 
started  out  empty-handed  and  has  worked  his  way- 
upward  to  a  position  among  the  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  community. 


L.  SHUP,  editor  and  publisher  of 
the  Newton  Press,  was  born  in  Wade  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County,  111.,  one  mile  north- 
west of  Newton,  July  4,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Emily  (Coffin)  Shup.  His  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Coffin  in  Hancock  County,  Ind., 
thence  removing  to  Jasper  County,  111.,  in  1852. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


493 


Mr.  Shup,  Sr.,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War. 
After  coming  to  this  State  he  served  one  term  as 
Sheriff  of  Jasper  County,  filling  the  office  from 
1860  to  1862.  He  has  also  held  various  other  lo- 
cal offices.  His  present  residence  is  in  Newton. 
His  wife  is  of  English  descent,  and  the  common 
ancestry  of  the  Coffin  family,  now  so  numerous  and 
influential,  emigrated  to  America  early  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  and  settled  in  the  Massachusetts 
Colony.  A  branch  of  the  family  removed  to  the 
Island  of  Nantucket,  and  thence  to  North  Caro- 
lina. Mrs.  Shup  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  near 
Guilford  Court  House,  celebrated  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary and  American  Civil  Wars,  and  is  descended 
from  that  branch  of  the  family.  She  removed 
with  her  parents  to  Wayne  County,  and  afterward 
to  Hancock  County,  lud.  Several  members  of 
the  Coffin  family  with  which  she  is  connected  are 
prominent  in  the  banking  and  railway  circles  of 
the  county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his  childhood 
and  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  and  attended  the 
district  school  in  his  boyhood,  after  which  he  spent 
two  or  three  terms  in  a  private  Normal  School. 
On  starting  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  took  up 
educational  work,  and  engaged  in  teaching  sev- 
eral terms  of  school.  His  political  sympathies 
led  him  into  the  Democratic  camp,  where  he  has 
since  been  at  home.  Yielding  to  the  solicitation 
of  friends,  he  submitted  to  the  unanimous  wish  of 
his  fellow-cilizens,  regardless  of  party,  and  was 
elected  without  opposition  the  first  Village  Clerk 
of  Newton.  He  wore  his  official  honors  with  be- 
coming modesty,  performed  the  arduous  duties  of 
his  office  with  ability  and  fidelity,  and  retired  to  pri- 
vate life  in  the  spirit  in  which  he  was  elected — 
namely,  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  his  con- 
stituents. Since  that  one  eventful  occasion  he  has 
never  exhibited  any  weakness  in  the  desire  for  po- 
litical distinction.  He  will  probably  always  look 
back  to  that  episode  in  his  career  as  a  youthful 
indiscretion. 

When  twenty-two  years  of  age,  Mr.  Shup  en- 
tered upon  the  study  of  law  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Brown  &  Gibson,  a  prominent  law  firm  of 
Newton,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1880,  at 
Springfield,  111.  In  June  of  that  year  he  went  to 


Kingman,  Kan.,  where  he  entered  upon  the  prose- 
cution of  his  chosen  profession,  and  also  became 
associate  editor  of  the  Kingman  Citizen.  While 
there  he  likewise  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  School  Examiners,  by  the  appointment  of  the 
County  Commissioners.  In  June,  1882,  he  re- 
turned to  Newton  and  assumed  editorial  charge  of 
the  Newton  Press,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected ever  since  as  editor  and  part  owner.  He 
is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  Master  in  Chan- 
cery of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Jasper  County. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1887,  Mr.  Shup  was  married  in 
Wade  Township  to  Miss  Nannie  Richardson,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Frank  D. 
and  Esther  A.  (Weer)  Richardson.  Her  parents 
are  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  are  well  known  in  the  commu- 
nity, and  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  cir- 
cles. 

Mr.  Shup  is  an  able  journalist.  As  a  writer  he 
is  bright  and  witty,  and  always  keeps  a  weather- 
eye  open  for  the  local  interests  of 'his  city  and 
county.  He  is  thorough  and  sound  in  his  Democ- 
racy, and  always  makes  the  Press  a  potent  factor 
in  campaign  work.  A  genial,  whole-souled  com- 
panionable man,  he  has  hosts  of  friends  among 
his  fellow-citizens. 


/^EORGE  HARDSOCK,  who  for  forty-five 

ill  <— -.  years  has  been  a  well-known  resident  of  Ef- 
^\^||  fingham  County,  is  now  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  staves  and  lumber  in  Mason.  His  is 
one  of  the  leading  industries  of  this  locality,  and 
our  subject  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men.  He  was  born  in  Licking  Conn ty, 
Ohio,  March  7,  1839,  and  on  the  father's  side  is 
of  German  descent.  During  his  boyhood  he  wont 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  where  he  followed 
farming.  He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  war  for 
independence,  and  died  in  the  Buckeye  State  at 
a  very  advanced  age.  Jefferson  Hardsock,  father 


494 


POETEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  George,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a 
miller  by  trade.  He  removed  to  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  when  that  community  was  a  pioneer  settle- 
ment, and  there  engaged  in  milling  for  a  number 
of  years.  His  death  occurred  in  1845.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hester  Van  Winkle,  and 
was  also  born  in  the  Keystone  State.  Her  father, 
William  Van  Winkle,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812.  In  1832  his  death  occurred  in  Ohio  at 
the  age  of  four-score  years.  Mrs.  Hardsock  is 
still  living  and  is  now  the  widow  of  James  Mc- 
Ardle,  who  died  in  1888. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hardsock  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  but  Susan  and  William  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  former  was  the  wife  of  James  Beck, 
of  Best  Township,  this  county,  and  at  her  death 
left  a  family  of  five  children.  William  wedded 
Mary  Davidson,  who  died  in  1878,  leaving  three 
children,  and  he  then  married  a  Kansas  lady,  by 
whom  he  had  four  children.  His  death  occurred 
in  1890,  and  his  widow  is  still  living  in  the  State 
of  Washington.  Mary  Ellen,  the  eldest  of  the 
Hardsock  family,  is  the  widow  of  Aaron  Hereld, 
of  Jackson  Township,  and  has  seven  children. 
George  is  the  next  younger.  Elzey  wedded  Mrs. 
Siddons,  widow  of  Joseph  Siddons,  who  died  dur- 
ing the  war,  leaving  one  child;  Elzey  and  his  wife 
have  five  children  and  reside  in  Mason  Town- 
ship. Elnora  is  the  wife  of  George  Jones,  of  Spar- 
tan, Morrow  County,  Ohio,  and  they  have  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children.  By  her  second  marriage  the 
mother  of  our  subject  had  four  children:  Hester, 
Earl  and  Susan,  all  deceased;  and  Julia,  wife  of 
Charles  Martin,  a  fanner  residing  two  and  a-half 
miles  from  Mason.  They  have  two  children,  Del- 
bert  and  Nora.  With  Julia  resides  her  mother, 
who  is  now  eighty  -three  years  of  age.  Her  mother 
lived  to  be  ninety-two  years  old,  and  her  mother- 
in-law  reached  the  extreme  old  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twelve  years  and  six  months. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  left  home  when  a 
lad  of  twelve  years,  and  has  since  been  dependent 
upon  liis  own  resources.  His  education  was  prin- 
cipally received  in  Etfingham  County.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1848,  and  has  since  been  a  resident 
of  this  State.  However,  he  went  South  during 
the  late  war  as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Fifty- 


fourth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  enlisted  November 
10,  1861,  and  served  for  two  years  and  ten  months. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Parker's  Cross 
Roads,  Island  No.  64,  Vicksburg,  Ball's  Bluff,  Lit- 
tle Rock  and  Pine  Bluff.  He  was  then  taken  sick, 
and  on  account  of  disability  was  discharged.  His 
brother  William  was  also  a  soldier  and  was  one  of 
only  sixteen  men  who  returned  to  Mason  out  of 
a  company  of  one  hundred  and  three  who  left 
EfBngham  County.  He  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vickgburg  and  Shiloh,  together  with  many 
other  important  engagements,  and  at  the  first- 
named  engagement  five  bullets  were  shot  through 
his  cap,  but  he  did  not  receive  a  wound.  He  died 
in  the  State  of  Washington. 

On  the  llth  of  October,  1864,  Mr.  Hardsock 
wedded  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  William  and 
Rhoda  (Bradley)  Holland,  whose  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Tennessee.  Eight  children  have  been 
born  unto  them:  Robert,  who  married  Miss  Dora 
Reynolds,  with  his  wife  and  daughter  Clara  re- 
sides in  Beardstown,  III.;  William  H.,  who  married 
Mattie  Samples,  also  lives  in  Beardstown,  and, 
with  his  brother,  is  employed  in  a  stove  factory. 
Hester  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Leithcr,  of  Mason, 
and  they  have  a  daughter,  Ruth;  James  M.,  Jo- 
seph, Ellen,  Emma  and  Callie  are  still  at  home. 
The  family  circle  has  never  been  broken  by  the 
hand  of  Death. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Hardsock  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  sawmill  of  Miles  Grove, 
of  Mason.  Their  partnership  continued  about 
eighteen  months,  when  they  sold  out  to  Messrs. 
Kettle  <fe  Sisson,  for  whom  our  subject  worked  for 
about  a  year  and  a-half,  when  he  purchased  Mr. 
Sisson 's  interest  and  continued  with  Mr.  Kettle 
for  about  a  year.  Selling  his  interest  in  the  saw- 
mill to  George  Gibson,  he  then  came  to  Mason 
and  began  working  in  a  stave  factory,  where  he 
was  employed  for  sixteen  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  sawmill  on  the  Wabash  River  and,  re- 
moving it  to  Mason,  ground  feed  and  sawed  lum- 
ber. Subsequently  he  purchased  new  boilers  and 
stave  machinery,  and  has  since  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  staves.  The  capacity  of  the  mill 
is  now  four  thousand  feet  of  lumber  per  day  and 
eighteen  thousand  staves.  Mr.  Hardsock  is  doing 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


495 


an  excellent  business,  which  has  constantly  in- 
creased. In  addition  to  his  mill,  he  owns  a  pleas- 
ant residence  and  another  house  in  Mason,  which 
he  rents. 

Mr.  Ilardsock  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  is  Treasurer.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  faithfully  served 
for  two  years  as  a  member  of  the  Village  Board, 
was  Constable  for  two  years,  and  is  now  serving 
his  third  term  as  School  Trustee.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  Mason  Lodge  No.  217,  A. F.  <fe  A.M.; 
Mason  Chapter  No.  76,  R.  A.  M.;  and  of  Ransom 
Post  No.  99,  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Ilardsock  is  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county,  where  for  forty- 
five  years  he  has  made  his  home.  He  has  wit- 
nessed its  entire  growth  and  development,  and 
has  ever  borne  his  part  in  its  advancement  and 
progress.  He  has  been  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  his  orlicial  duties  and  is  a  straightforward  and 
upright  business  man,  whose  honorable  career  has 
won  him  universal  confidence.  Well  does  he  de- 
serve representation  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
county. 


1  OSEPH  LITZELMANN,  deceased,  the  pio- 
neer hotel-keeper  of  Newton  and  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Jasper  County,  came 
here  in  1840,  locating  first  in  St.  Marie. 
From  that  time  until  the  day  of  his  death  he  was 
recognized  as  an  influential  and  prominent  citi- 
zen, for  he  ever  bore  an  active  part  in  the  up- 
building and  development  of  the  county  and  the 
promotion  of  its  best  interests.  Mr.  Litzelmann 
was  born  in  Alsace,  France,  in  what  is  now  Ger- 
many, in  1820.  His  father,  Mathias  Litzelmann, 
was  also  a  native  of  that  country.  The  family 
emigrated  to  America  in  1840,  and  after  landing 
in  this  country  came  directly  to  Jasper  Count}', 
111.,  taking  up  their  residence  in  St.  Marie. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  trader  and 
dualer  in  live  stock  and  also  engaged  in  farming. 
In  1815  he  was  married  in  St.  Marie  to  Miss  Bar- 


bara Ostheimer,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Alsace, 
France,  and  who  emigrated  from  Europe  to  Amer- 
ica about  the  same  time  as  her  husband.  They 
lived  upon  a  farm  for  a  time,  but  in  1855  Mr. 
Litzelmann  purchased  the  American  House  at 
Newton,  now  the  property  of  his  son  Joseph,  and 
engaged  in  hotel-keeping  there.  He  improved 
and  enlarged  this  hotel,  which  he  continued  to 
carry  on  until  his  death,  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1874.  Mrs.  Litzelmann  died  a  number  of  years 
previous,  passing  away  in  1850  in  St.  Marie. 

Five  children  were  born  to  this  worthy  couple, 
but  only  two  are  now  living.  Maggie,  the  eldest, 
became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Boos,  but  is  now  de- 
ceased; Mary  died  in  childhood;  Joseph  and  Ma- 
thias were  twins.  The  former  married  Sarah 
Frances  Thompson  and  is  the  present  proprietor 
of  the  American  House.  He  is  represented  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work.  Sophia,  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  is  the  widow  of  Joseph  Geoppner  and 
resides  in  Newton. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Litzelmann  was  a  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  party  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
Catholics  in  their  religious  belief.  Our  subject 
was  an  industrious  and  upright  man  and  by  his 
well-directed  efforts  along  the  lines  of  business  ac- 
cumulated considerable  property.  He  was  not 
active  in  public  affairs  but  was  highly  respected 
bv  all  who  knew  him. 


f 


OHN  ELLIOTT,  proprietor  of  a  livery,  feed 
and  sale  stable  of  Olney,  is  a  native-born 
citizen  of  that  town,  or  rather  of  the  terri- 
tory comprised  within  its  limits,  for  his 
birth,  which  occurred  November  3,  1831,  ante- 
dates the  organization  of  Richland  County  and  the 
township  and  city  of  Olney.  Within  the  limits 
of  what  is  now  the  city  of  Olney,  his  father  pur- 
chased a  squatter's  claim  in  1824,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  land  at  a  Government  sale,  and  paid 
for  it  the  Government  price  of  $1.25  per  acre.  It 
was  then  a  part  of  Lawrence  County.  A  portion 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  that  tract  is  still  in  the  possession  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  has  always  been  his  home. 

John  Elliott  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  Will- 
iam and  Elizabeth  (Shidler)  Elliott.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  numbered 
among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  what  is  now 
Richland  Comity.  He  came  here  with  his  father, 
James  Elliott,  in  1824.  A  sketch  of  this  worthy 
pioneer  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  John 
Elliott  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
county,  receiving  such  school  privileges  as  were 
to  be  found  on  the  frontier.  He  was  brought  up 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  having  attained  his 
majority,  he  was  married  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1853,  in  Richland  County,  to  Miss  Ann  Maria 
Truitt,  who  was  born  in  Maryland,  February  14, 
1836,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Clarissa 
(Broughton)  Truitt.  Her  death  occurred  April 
12,  1863.  Three  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage, a  daughter  and  two  sons.  Jeannette,  born 
February  25,  1855,  is  the  wife  of  F.  T.  Phillips,  of 
Olney;  Ira  Gilbert  was  born  October  24, 1860,  and 
died  July  20,  1880;  Harry  F.,  born  March  16,  1862, 
was  killed  on  the  railroad,  November  22, 1889.  On 
the  27th  of  April,  1865,  Mr.  Elliott  married  for 
his  second  wife  Miss  Evalena  B.  Grass,  who  was 
born  in  Lawrence  County,  111.,  July  3,  1838,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Alfred  H.  and  Susan  (Snyder) 
Grass.  She  became  the  mother  of  four  children, 
and  died  August  29,  1873.  James  Harvey,  the 
eldest  child,  was  born  January  26,  1866,  married 
Nellie  Hensley,  and  is  a  resident  of  Olney  Town- 
ship; William,  who  was  born  July  16,  1868,  is  at 
home;  Robert,  who  was  born  September  18,  1869, 
is  now  in  St.  Louis;  and  John,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1870,  died  March  8,  1871. 

Soon  after  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Elliott  re- 
moved to  a  farm  near  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Noble,  where  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits a  few  years.  He  then  returned  to  the  old 
homestead  in  Olney,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
On  the  9th  of  December,  1875,  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Zook,  widow  of  Gamin  Zook,  and  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Martha  (Dunbar)  Willhour.  She  was 
born  in  Berks  Count}',  Pa.,  October  16,  1828,  and 
by  her  former  marriage  had  one  daughter,  Nettie, 


now  Mrs.  Seeders,  a  resident  of  Fairbury,  111.  One 
child  was  born  of  the  third  marriage,  Walter,  who 
was  born  February  23,  1876,  and  died  January  15, 
1877.  Mrs.  Elliott  died  September  1,  1885.  On 
the  10th  of  November,  1886,  Mr.  Elliott  was  united 
in  marriage  with  his  present  wife,  who  was  at  that 
time  Mrs.  Amanda  J.  Adams,  widow  of  Eli  Adams, 
and  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Pha'be  (Johnson) 
Palmateer.  Her  father,  Dr.  Benjamin  La  Palma- 
teer,  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  of  French 
ancestry.  He  became  a  physician,  and  removed  to 
Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss- 
Phoebe  Johnson,  a  native  of  that  county.  The 
same  year  they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Crawford  County.  There  Dr.  Palmateer,  besides 
practicing  his  profession,  engaged  in  farming,  and 
became  a  Methodist  minister.  He  and  his  wife  aro 
now  deceased.  Their  daughter,  Amanda  J.,  was 
married  June  20,  1869,  to  Eli  Adams,  and  they 
made  their  home  in  Olney.  Mr.  Adams,  who  was 
a  merchant  and  postal  clerk,  died  March  10,  1883, 
leaving  one  daughter,  Flora  May,  who  resides  with 
her  mother  and  stepfather.  Mrs.  Elliott  was  born 
in  Cumberland,  Guernsey  County,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Elliott  continued  in  his  original  vocation, 
that  of  fanning  and  stock-raioing,  until  1888,  when 
he  went  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  business,  but 
after  two  years  returned  to  his  home  in  Olne}-.  In 
February,  1892,  he  bought  the  livery  business 
which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He  has  a  large  and 
well-equipped  barn,  where  he  keeps  constantly  on 
hand  a  large  number  of  fine  horses  and  carriages. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
acres  in  Olney  Township,  which  he  recently  deeded 
to  his  son,  and  has  another  of  sixty  acres  lying 
partly  within  the  city  of  Olney,  and  which  is  very 
valuable.  Besides  this,  he  has  a  tract  of  three 
acres  in  the  city,  the  site  of  his  residence.  He 
platted  twenty-five  acres  of  the  old  homestead 
farm,  and  this  was  made  an  addition  to  Olne_\;.  In 
it  he  still  owns  several  valuable  lots. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Elliott  is  a  Democrat,  and  for 
ten  years  has  represented  the  First  Ward  as  Alder- 
erman  in  the  City  Council.  In  his  religious  views 
he  is  a  Swedenborgian,  and  is  an  active  and  in- 
fluential member  of  that  society.  His  wife  holds 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


497 


Mr.  Elliott  is  esteemed  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
influential  citizens  of  Olney,  and  has  by  his  strict 
integrity  and  upright  course  in  life  won  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


w 


'  OSEPII  BOOS  was  one  of  the  well-known 
pioneers  of  Jasper  County.  He  settled  here 
in  June,  1840,  and  from  that  time  until  his 
"  deatli  was  prominently  connected  with  the 
upbuilding  of  the  community  and  with  its  best 
interests,  so  that  he  well  deserves  mention  in  this 
volume.  He  was  born  in  Alsace,  then  a  province 
of  France,  but  now  belonging  to  Germany,  in 
1807,  and  there  spent  the  days  of  his  youth  and 
early  manhood,  enjoying  superior  educational  ad- 
vantages. On  attaining  to  man's  estate  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Feleger, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  that  country.  In  1840 
they  emigrated  with  their  family,  consisting  of 
two  sons,  to  the  United  States,  the  ocean  voyage 
occupying  about  three  months.  On  arriving  they 
made  their  way  directly  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Jasper  County.  They  settled  in  what  is  now  Fox 
Township,  but  was  then  a  part  of  the  township  of 
St.  Marie.  There  Mr.  Boos  bought  a  tract  of  land 
and  engaged  in  farming,  which  honorable  occupa- 
tion he  followed  for  the  long  period  of  twenty- 
four  years.  He  and  his  wife  endured  patiently 
the  many  privations  and  hardships  incident  to  pio- 
neer life,  and  by  dint  of  perseverance  and  indus- 
try eventually  reached  the  goal  of  success.  Mr. 
Boos  was  an  excellent  farmer,  energetic  and  en- 
terprising, and  carefully  attended  to  all  the  de- 
tails of  his  business.  Aided  by  his  frugal  wife 
and  .industrious  sons,  he  was  eminently  prosperous, 
and  acquired  a  handsome  competence  as  the  re- 
ward of  their  united  labors. 

After  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  spent  upon 
the  old  homestead,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boos  left  the 
farm  in  charge  of  their  sons,  and  with  their 
younger  children  removed  to  the  village  of  St. 
Marie,  where  the  former  spent  the  remainder  of 


his  days.  Our  subject  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
December  6,  1865.  The  family  remained  in  St. 
Marie  for  eight  years  after  the  deatli  of  the  father, 
and  then  removed  to  Newton,  where  the  mother 
died  in  August,  1886,  at  the  advanced  age  of  sev- 
enty-seven years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boos  were  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  who  grew  to  mature  years,  two  sons  and 
six  daughters.  Aloyous,  the  eldest  of  the  family, 
was  for  several  years  a  successful  farmer,  and  in 
company  with  his  brother  dealt  extensively  in  live- 
stock, being  the  largest  shipper  of  cattle  in  the  coun- 
ty. In  1870  he  opened  a  general  store  in  Newton, 
continuing  in  the  mercantile  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  May  16,  1880.  He  was  also 
largely  interested  in  other  important  business  enter- 
prises. The  large  llouring  mill  at  Newton  was  built 
in  1877  by  him,  his  brother  and  the  late  Bernhardt 
Faller.  Joseph,  the  second  of  the  family,  is  a 
merchant  and  grain  buyer  at  Boos  Station,  on  the 
Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evansville  Railroad,  and  is  also 
engaged  in  farming,  being  a  large  land-owner.  He 
has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Maggie  Litzelmann,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Litzel- 
mann,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.  She  died  March  14,  1875,  leaving  two 
children,  Frances  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Boos  later  mar- 
ried Hellena  Horn,  by  whom  he  has  had  six  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing,  two 
having  died  in  irfTancy;  Josephine,  the  eldest 
daughter,  became"  the  wife  of  Anthony  Litzelmann, 
and  died  September  29,  1877,  leaving  seven  chil- 
dren; Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Xavier  Faller,  and 
they  reside  in  Chicago,  111.;  Lena  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Frances  is  a  nun  in  a  convent  in 
St.  Louis;  Louisa  married  Aloyous  Florie,  and 
died  in  1884,  leaving  one  child;  Mai'3'  is  the 
youngest,  and  with  her  sister  Lena  resides  at  the 
old  homestead  in  Newton. 

Mr.  Boos  was  possessed  of  a  very  liberal  educa- 
tion, and  was  always  a  friend  to  schools.  In  his 
religious  belief  he  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in 
the  early  struggles  to  establish  a  place  of  worship 
in  St.  Marie  he  contributed  liberally  of  his  time  and 
means.  He  was  ever  forward  in  promoting  the 
best  interests  of  the  church  to  which  he  and  his 
family  belonged,  and  his  efforts  resulted  in  much 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


good.  As  a  citizen,  he  was  highly  esteemed  for 
his  upright  dealings  with  all,  and  for  his  progress- 
ive and  public  spirit.  The  good  example  of  this 
worthy  man  has  not  been  lost  sight  of  by  his  fam- 
ily, for  they  too  have  contributed  largely  to  the 
advancement  and  upbuilding  of  the  community  in 
which  they  were  all  reared.  A  handsome  large 
business  block  in  Newton,  containing  three  stores, 
stands  as  a  witness  to  their  enterprise  and  business 
sagncitv.  To  religion  and  education  they  have 
also  devoted  much  of  their  means,  as  they  were 
the  most  liberal  contributors  in  the  building  of 
St.  Thomas'  Church  at  Newton,  which  is  an  im- 
posing structure.  The  convent  is  the  work  of 
Sister  Frances,  who,  assisted  by  the  other  members 
of  the  family,  built  and  donated  it  to  the  church. 
Much  credit  is  due  this  honored  pioneer  and  his 
descendants  for  the  manner  in  which  they  have 
borne  their  parts,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  we  have 
recorded  a  few  of  their  many  acts  of  charity  and 
kindness. 


¥">ILLIAM  E.  LUGENBEEL,  who  has  been 
President  of  Austin  College,  of  Effing- 
ham,  111.,  since  the  opening  of  that  insti- 
tution on  the  7th  of  July,  1891,  claims  Maryland 
as  the  State  of  his  nativity.  The  place  of  his 
birth  was  Frederick  County  and  the  date  Novem- 
ber 4,  1854.  His  parents  were  John  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Harn)  Lugcnbeel.  The}-  were  also  na- 
tives of  Maryland  nnd  were  descended  from  old 
Colonial  families.  His  father,  who  died  in  1859, 
was  of  German  descent,  and  the  mother  is  of 
French  and  English  lineage.  She  is  still  living 
and  now  makes  her  home  in  Baltimore,  Md. 

William  E.  Lugenbeel  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  his  native  county  and  spent  much  of  his  boy- 
hood working  in  his  grandfather's  woolen  mill. 
His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  publicand 
private  schools  of  Frederick  County,  after  which 
he  entered  the  National  Normal  School  of  Leb- 
anon, Ohio,  from  which  institution  he  was  gradu- 


ated in  the  Class  of  '73.  He  then  entered  upon 
his  life  work  as  a  teacher.  He  taught  first  in  the 
public  schools  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  and  then  was 
Principal  of  the  Southern  Indiana  Normal  Col- 
lege, located  at  Mitchell,  which  position  he  held 
for  a  period  of  eight  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  time  he  became  Principal  of  the  Borden  In- 
stitute, of  Borden,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  for 
four  years.  In  July,  1891,  he  accepted  the  Presi- 
dency of  Austin  College,  which  position  he  has 
since  held.  The  history  of  this  college  is  given 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  Lugenbeel  has  been 
employed  in  educational  work  exclusively  since 
eighteen  years  of  age  and  possesses  high  ability  as 
an  instructor. 

In  his  social  relations  our  subject  is  a  member 
of  Mitchell  Lodge  No.  228,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of 
Mitchell  Chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  also 
holds  membership  with  Mitchell  Lodge  No.  150, 
K.  of  P.  In  political  sentiment  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  his  religious  belief  is  liberal,  embracing  all 
denominations;  however,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  Lugenbeel  is  a  gentleman  of  thorough  edu- 
cation and  possesses  superior  ability  as  an  educator. 
He  is  intensely  interested  in  the  progress  of  the 
students  entrusted  to  his  care,  and  he  is  systematic, 
thorough  and  industrious  in  discharge  of  the 
arduous  duties  of  his  position.  Under  his  able 
management,  Austin  College  has  made  a  promis- 
ing start  in  its  career  and  bids  fair  to  take  ran  k 
among  the  leading  educational  institutions  of  Ill- 
inois. 


HILIP  WEST,  a  progressive  and  representa- 
tive farmer  of  Richland  County,  residing 
on  section  12,  Noble  Township,  was  born  on 
the  farm  which  is  still  his  home,  April  23, 
1842.  His  father,  Lewis  West,  was  reared  nenr 
Claremont,  this  county,  and  married  Sarah  Ann 
Phillips,  whose  girlhood  days  were  spent  in  Olney 
Township.  He  was  also  a  farmer  by  occupation. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


499 


His  death  occurred  in  August,  1842,  about  four 
years  after  his  7navriage.  Mrs.  West  lived  a  widow 
six  years  and  then  became  the  wife  of  George 
Helsel.  Her  death  occurred  in  Decker  Township 
about  1873.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  had  two  children, 
the  sister  of  our  subject  being  Eliza  Ann,  who  was 
born  April  27,  1840, and  is  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
Large.  They  removed  to  Kansas,  but  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Christian  County,  111. 

Since  a  lad  of  ten  years,  our  subject  has  had  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  whatever  suc- 
cess he  has  achieved  in  life  is  therefore  due  to  his 
own  efforts.  He  worked  as  a  farm  hand  in  this 
State  and  in  Indiana  during  his  earlier  years,  and 
during  his  youth  he  saw  much  of  the  rough  side  of 
life.  He  had  but  limited  school  privileges,  for  his 
livelihood  depended  upon  his  continuous  labors. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war  in 
Olnoy,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  B,  of  the 
Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Capt.  Mar- 
quis and  Col.  Funckhauser.  The  regiment  was 
assembled  at  Centralia,  and  was  ordered  by  rail  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  but  at  Bridgeport,  111.,  met  with  a 
wreck.  Mr.  West  was  taken  sick  at  Castalian 
Springs,  Tenn.,  and  sent  to  Gallatin,  where  he  was 
discharged  on  account  of  disability  in  January, 
1863.  He  has  never  yet  fully  recovered  from  his 
army  experience. 

In  1865,  Mr.  West  purchased  forty  acres  of  land, 
formerly  belonging  to  his  father's  estate,  upon 
which  was  a  small  log  cabin  and  log  stable.  Of 
this,  twenty  acres  had  been  cleared.  He  immedi- 
ately began  its  further  development  and  placed  it 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  From  time  to 
time,  as  his  financial  resources  were  increased,  he 
extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm,  until  it  now 
comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return 
for  his  care  and  labor.  The  log  house  has  long 
since  been  replaced  by  a  frame  structure,  good 
barns  have  been  built,  and  other  improvements 
made  which  indicate  the  owner  to  be  a  practical 
and  progressive  farmer. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  West  chose  Miss  Alice  Slasor,  daughter  of 
C.  and  Sarah  (Adams)  Slasor.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio,  and  when  a  young  lady  came  with  her  par- 


ents to  Richland  County.  Their  union,  which  was 
celebrated  in  Noble  Township  December  23, 1867, 
has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  children. 
Laura,  the  eldest,  died  in  childhood;  Charles,  born 
December  19,  1870,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Olney,  and  now  aids  his  father  on  the 
farm;  Philip  died  in  infancy;  Demma  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  Ida  was  born  July  16,  1878; 
Lewis  was  born  July  31,  1880;  Lora,  October  19, 
1882;  Alice,  March  22,  1886;  and  Lottie.  Decem- 
ber 10,  1888. 

Since  casting  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  Mr.  West  has  been  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  for  twelve  years,  and  the 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  For  over  half  a  century  his 
home  has  been  in  Richland  County,  and  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  its  growth  and  up- 
building, taking  a  commendable  interest  in  every 
thing  pertaining  to  its  welfare.  He  is  a  man  of 
sterling  worth,  and  the  honorable,  upright  life 
which  he  has  led  has  gained  for  him  an  enviable 
position  among  his  fellow-townsmen. 


sHOMAS  PRICE  is  a  well-known  agricultur- 
ist of  Jasper  County,  residing  on  section 
16,  Wade  Township.  Indiana  has  furnished 
a  number  of  worthy  citizens  to  this  community, 
among  whom  is  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Vigo 
County,  of  the  Hoosier  State,  March  6,  1839.  His 
father,  John  Price,  was  a  native  of  Harrison 
County, Ky.,  and  there  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Becket,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
State.  Accompanied  by  his  family,  he  removed  to 
Indiana,  and  in  1842  he  emigrated  to  Edgar 
County,  111.,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers. 
There  he  secured  land  and  developed  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  upon  which  he  lived  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  passing  away  in  1873.  He  was 


500 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


twice  married.  His  last  wife  survived  him  a  fen- 
years  but  is  now  deceased. 

Thomas  Price  is  the  youngest  of  four  sons.  He 
was  but  three  3'ears  old  at  the  time  of  the  removal 
to  Edgar  County,  where  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  passed.  His  educational  privi- 
leges were  quite  meagre,  but  his  training  in  the 
line  of  farm  labor  was  not  so  limited.  As  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  he  chose 
Miss  Beththana  Clarke,  a  native  of  Edgar  County, 
and  a  daughter  of  Philip  Clarke.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  in  the  county  of  her  nativity  in  1860, 
and  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Price  rented  land 
there  for  seventeen  years.  It  was  in  1877  that 
they  came  to  Jasper  County  and  purchased  a  farm 
of  eighty-five  acres  in  Crooked  Creek  Township. 
A  few  acres  had  been  broken,  and  a  rough  log 
house  constituted  the  only  improvement  upon  the 
place,  but  with  characteristic  energy  Mr.  Price  be- 
gan its  development.  He  cleared  the  land,  fenced 
it,  planted  his  crops,  and  soon  rich  and  fertile 
fields  had  taken  the  place  of  the  barren  tract.  Mr. 
Price  also  erected  a  neat  residence,  good  barns 
and  outbuildings,  planted  an  orchard  and  made 
the  farm  one  of  the  best  in  that  locality.  He  op- 
erated it  successfully  for  about  thirteen  years,  and 
then,  in  1889,  took  charge  of  the  Poor  Farm,  which 
at  that  time  was  very  much  run  down.  The  fences 
and  buildings  were  all  going  to  decay  and  the  whole 
place  presented  a  very  dilapidated  appearance. 
Since  taking  possession,  Mr.  Price  has  almost 
fenced  the  entire  place,  repaired  the  buildings, 
erected  a  new  house  at  a  cost  of  $1,000,  and  other- 
wise greatly  improved  the  place.  When  he  took 
charge  of  the  farm  there  were  eighty-nine  inmates, 
but  the  number  now  varies  from  nine  to  twenty- 
three.  They  are  well  fed  and  comfortably  clothed 
and  have  neat  and  well-kept  quarters.  No  more 
efficient  person  for  the  position  could  have  been 
secured  than  Mr.  Price,  and  he  has  won  high  com- 
mendation from  all  concerned. 

Since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860,  Mr.  Price  has  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  in 
which  Mr.  Price  is  an  officer.  This  worthy  couple 
have  one  son,  who  is  married  and  carries  on  the 


home  farm.  The  son  and  his  wife  are  also  mem- 
bers of  the  same  church.  They  have  one  child, 
Alpha,  a  babe  of  a  few  months.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  is 
now  filling  the  office  of  Master,  and  is  a  member 
of  Rose  Hill  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life,  Mr.  Price  has  been  found  straightforward 
and  honorable,  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him, 
and  has  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


T.  JOSEPH'S  DIOCESAN  COLLEGE  is 
located  at  Teutopolis,  111.  In  1858,  at  the 
request  of  the  Rt.  Rev.  II.  Damian  Junker, 

D.  D.,  first  Bishop  of  Alton,  several  Fran- 
ciscan Fathers  of  the  Province  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
Germany,  sent  by  their  Provincial,  the  Very  Rev. 
P.  Gregory  Jankuecht,  arrived  in  this  country 
and  took  charge  of  St.  Francis'  congregation  of 
Teutopolis,  Effingham  County.  Prompted  by  zeal, 
and  taught  by  experience  that  the  education 
and  religious  training  of  youth  demands  par- 
ticular attention,  the  Fathers  soon  became  con- 
vinced of  the  usefulness  and  necessity  of  a  higher 
literary  institution.  Accordingly,  under  the  au- 
spices of  the  Superior  of  the  mission,  the  Very 
Rev.  P.  Damian  Hennewig,  O.  S.  F.,  a  committee 
of  prominent  citizens  of  Teutopo'.is  was  formed 
for  taking  the  first  steps  toward  procuring  con- 
venient grounds  and  the  necessary  funds  for  the 
erection  of  a  college. 

Messrs.  John  F.  Wnschefort,  Clement  Uptmor, 
John  Wernsing  and  Dietrich  Eggermann,  who 
composed  the  committee,  deserve  high  commenda- 
tion for  the  great  interest  shown  in  this  undertaking 
and  for  the  efficient  service  they  rendered.  An 
area  of  eighteen  lots,  parti}'  donated  and  partly  pur- 
chased, in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  was  se- 
lected as  the  site  for  the  institution,  and  funds 
were  liberally  subscribed  by  the  members  of  the 
congregation,  then  comprising  the  greater  part  of 
Erfingham  County.  The  foundation  stone  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


501 


laid  in  1801.  A  two-story  brick  house  with  base- 
ment and  attic  rooms  was  erected  and  furnished  with 
the  equipments  belonging  to  an  edifice  of  this  kind. 
A  spacious  garden  and  extensive  playgrounds 
were  laid  out,  shade  trees  were  planted,  and  the 
whole  surrounded  with  a  substantial  fence.  The 
Fathers  and  Brothers  largely  assisted  in  the  work, 
and  the  Very  Rev.  Kilian  Schloesser,  O.S.  F.,  with 
his  own  hand  chiseled  into  the  keystone  over  the 
main  entrance  the  beautiful  device,  "  Omnia  Cum 
Deo  Nihil  Sine  Eo."  The  work  progressed  so 
rapidly  that  in  the  fall  of  1862  the  institution, 
placed  under  the  special  protection  of  St.  Joseph, 
was  opened  with  Rev.  P.  Heribert  Hoffman,  O.  8. 
F.,  as  Rector,  and  other  Franciscan  Fathers  as  Pro- 
fessors. The  Bishop  of  Alton,  to  whom  the  col- 
lege was  subsequently  deeded  for  the  benefit  of 
the  diocese,  raised  the  institution  also  to  an  eccles- 
iastical seminary  and  sent  his  candidates  for  the 
holy  ministry  there  to  pursue  the  course  in  phil- 
osophy and  theology.  The  number  of  Fathers  was 
small,  and  the  few  were  engaged  besides  in  giving 
missions  and  in  other  pastoral  duties.  In  conse- 
quence of  such  multifarious  and  exacting  labors 
they  could  not  possibly  give  the  necessary  atten- 
tion to  the  seminary.  They,  therefore,  deemed  it 
proper  to  discontinue  teaching  philosophy  and 
theology  and  devote  their  entire  energy  to  giving 
young  men  a  thorough  classical  education,  com- 
bined with  a  good  moral  training. 

Meanwhile  Rev.  P.  Ileribert  Hoffman  had  re- 
signed his  position  to  apply  himself  for  the  rest 
of  his  life  to  teaching  theology  to  the  clerics  of 
his  order  and  to  missionary  labor.  His  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  Convent  of  Teutopolis, 
October  16,  1868,  was  deplored  by  the  many  wit- 
nesses of  his  indefatigable  and  devoted  zeal  for  the 
honor  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  rectorship  of  the  college  by  the 
Very  Rev.  P.  Mauritius  Klostermann,  O.  S.  F., 
who  held  the  office  from  1864  until  1882.  One 
year  after  his  accession,  the  seminary  being  closed, 
the  course  of  studies  was  made  exclusively  class- 
ical and,  embracing  six  years,  was  divided  into  a 
preparatory  and  collegiate  one.  Subsequently  a 
commercial  course  was  added.  The  different 
branches  taught  are  as  follows  ;  Catechism,  Bible 


History  and  Evidences  of  Religion;  Latin, 
Greek,  German,  French  and  English  Languages; 
Rhetoric,  Poetry,  Ancient,  Modern  and  United 
States  History;  Geography,  Natural  History  and 
Natural  Philosophy,  Arithmetic  and  Mathematics; 
Book-keeping,  Penmanship,  Type-writing,  Draw- 
ing, and  Vocal  and  Instrumental  Music.  Special 
attention  was  paid  from  the  first  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  good  and  copious  library  for  the  use  of 
both  professors  and  student*.  Grateful  acknowl- 
edgment is  due  to  the  United  States  Government 
for  contributing  generously  to  the  same  by  send- 
ing valuable  official  publications. 

The  aim  of  the  institution, however,  is  not  only 
to  develop  the  mental  powers,  but  principally  to 
cultivate  a  relish  for  virtue  and  religion.  Al- 
though for  a  time  members  of  different  denomina- 
tions were  received,  yet  to  insure  success  it  was 
finalty  thought  best  that  all  students  should  be  of 
one  faith.  This  reason, and  the  express  wish  of  the 
Ordinary  of  the  diocese,  led  to  the  decision  that 
only  Catholics  should  be  admitted,  and  their  spir- 
itual wants  were  always  carefully  provided  for. 
At  first  a  room  in  the  main  building  served  as 
chapel,  but  soon  a  frame  building  was  erected  for 
this  purpose,  and  this  also,  in  the  course  of  time, 
proving  too  small,  was  replaced  by  a  larger  and 
more  commodious  one.  The  number  of  students 
ever  increasing,  the  building  could  no  longer  ac- 
commodate all  those  that  applied  for  admission. 
On  this  account,  during  the  summer  of  1877,  an 
addition,  which  the  Rev. Rector  had  been  planning 
for  some  time,  was  made  to  the  cast  side  of  the 
college,  thus  securing  nearly  twice  as  much  room 
as  the  old  building  had  afforded.  In  order  to 
have  a  spacious  study  hall,  well  provided  with 
light  and  air,  the  entire  lirst  story  of  this  wing 
was  fitted  up  for  this  purpose. 

In  1881,  the  Bishop  of  Alton  had  the  college 
incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, whereby  it  received  the  right  to  grant  the  aca- 
demic degrees  of  A.  B.  and  A.  M.  Henceforward 
it  went  under  the  title  of  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan 
.  College,  whereas  before  it  was  known  as  St. 
Joseph's  Ecclesiastical  College.  The  year  follow- 
ing, the  Very  Rev.  Mauritius  Klosterniann,  O.S.  F., 
compelled  by  dimness  of  sight,  resigned  the  roc- 


502 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


torale,  having  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years,  by 
his  faithful  and  able  guidance,  greatly  contributed 
to  the  growing  prosperity  of  the  institution.  He 
is  held  in  high  esteem  and  grateful  remembrance 
l>y  all  who  were  committed  to  his  paternal  care. 
After  a  few  years  of  rest  he  was  called  to  a  more 
extended  field  of  labor,  being  chosen  by  the  chap- 
ter of  his  order  Provincial  of  the  Province  of  the 
Sacred  Heart,  which  office  he  held  for  three  years. 
He  died  in  1892,  much  lamented  by  his  many 
friends.  The  vacancy  in  the  rectorate  of  the 
college  was  filled  by  the  appointment  of  the  Very 
Rev.  P.  Michael  Richardt,  O.  S.  F.,  who  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office  in  the  beginning  of 
the  scholastic  year  of  1882.  Owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  extension  of  the  building  made  in  1877 
proved  still  insufficient  for  the  constantly  growing 
number  of  applicants,  it  was  again  found  neces- 
sary to  enlarge  the  edifice.  Accordingly,  in  1884, 
an  additional  wing  was  erected  on  the  west  side, 
corresponding  to  the  eastern,  but  considerably 
larger.  On  this  occasion,  also,  all  the  modern  im- 
provements, such  as  steam  heating,  water  works  and 
gas  light,  were  introduced.  Thus  enlarged  and 
equipped,  the  college  was  rendered  capable  of  ac- 
commodating one  hundred  and  fifty  scholars.  At 
the  same  time  the  chapel  was  greatly  extended  by 
the  addition  of  a  new  sanctuary  and  a  roomy 
sacristy,  attached  to  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  new  building.  The  dedication  was  celebrated 
witli  great  solemnity,  the  Provincial,  the  Very  Rev. 
P.  Vincent  Halbfas,  O.  S.  F.,  performing  the  cere- 
mony, assisted  by  a  numerous  attendance  of  priests 
from  the  diocese.  The  presence  of  the  clergy  at 
this,  as  on  many  other  occasions,  manifested  the 
great  interest  they  entertain  for  the  institution 
and  has  had  a  cheering  influence  on  professors  as 
well  as  pupils;  and  the  frequent  visits  of  former 
students,  now  engaged  in  the  various  avocations 
of  life,  evince  their  lasting  affection  for  "Old 
St.  Joseph,"  their  Alma  Mater. 

The  celebration  of  the  jubilee,  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  opening  of  St.  Joseph's  Dioce- 
san College,  occurred  in  1887,  taking  place  on  the 
21st,  22d  and  23d  of  June.  The  brother  clergy 
of  the  diocese  of  Alton  were  invited,  and  a  re- 
union of  former  professors  and  students  was 


arranged.  The  program  was  elaborate  and  attrac- 
tive, and  the  occasion  proved  an  enjoyable  one  to 
all  who  had  the  pleasure  of  participating  in  it. 

The  college  grew,  and  again  improvements  had 
to  be  made.  For  the  acfiommodation  and  greater 
convenience  of  pupils  an  addition  in  the  form  of 
a  wing  was  erected  in  1890,  consisting  of  a  build- 
ing 110x40  feet,  two  stories  in  height,  containing 
a  new  study  hall,  75x40  feet,  furnished  with  ele- 
gant single  desks  that  are  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  the  students.  In  the  second  story  a  spacious 
hall  is  appropriately  fitted  out  for  entertainments 
and  exhibitions  and  for  festival  celebrations.  It 
is  adorned  by  a  beautiful  stationary  stage,  equipped 
with  artistic  drop-curtains  and  scenery,  adapted 
to  dramatic  and  musical  performances.  Adjacent 
to  the  new  wing  an  extensive  play  hall,  125x45 
feet,  has  been  erected,  where  the  pupils  may  exercise 
and  amuse  themselves  during  free  time,  particu- 
larly when  bad  weather  prevails.  The  hall  is  fitted 
out  with  gymnasium  apparatus  and  is  a  popular 
resort.  The  many  services  the  Very  Rev.  P. 
Michael  Richardt  had  rendered  to  the  institution 
were  highly  appreciated  and  duly  recognized  by 
his  promotion  to  the  important  office  of  Provincial 
of  the  Franciscans  in  the  year  1891.  In  his  place 
the  Very  Rev.  P.  Nicholas  Leonard,  O.  S.  F.,  was 
appointed  Rector,  who  held  the  position  until  Janu- 
ary, 1893,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Rectorate 
of  St.  Francis'  College  at  Quincy,  111.  Though  Rev. 
Father  Nicholas'  stay  as  Rector  was  of  short  dur- 
ation, still  he  had  greatly  endeared  himself  to 
those  under  his  charge,  who  gave  him  a  hearty 
farewell  on  his  departure  for  his  new  field  of  labor. 
The  present  incumbent  of  the  office  is  the  Very 
Rev.  P.  Hugolinus  Storff,  O.  S.  F.,  for  many  years 
Professor  and  Sub-Rector  of  the  institution.  The 
college  has  at  present  accommodations  for  one 
hundred  and  seventy  students,  and  its  capacity  is 
taxed  to  such  an  extent  that  in  the  near  future 
another  and  supposedly  final  addition  will  be 
erected,  as  well  as  a  large  and  elegant  chapel.  The 
college  has  all  the  modern  conveniences^steam 
heating,  gas  light,  and  hot  and  cold  water.  It  is 
well  lighted  and  thoroughly  ventilated,  enjoying 
the  best  sanitary  conditions.  The  present  value  of 
the  college  property  is  estimated  at  1100,000, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


503 


Its  rectors  and  time  of  service  are,  Rev.  P.  H. 
Hoffman,  O.  S.  F.,  1862-1864;  Rev.  P.  Mauritius 
Klostermann,  O.  S.  F.,  1864-1882;  Rev.  P.  Michael 
Richanlt,  O.  S.  F.,  1882-1891;  Rev.  P.  Nicholas 
Leonard,  O.  S.  F.,  1891  to  January,  1893;  and  Rev. 
P.  Hiigolinus  Storff,  who  is  the  present  rector. 
The  present  faculty  are  the  Very  Rev.  Hugolinus 
Storff,  O.  S.  F.,  Rector;  Rev.  P.  Christopher  Gui- 
thues,  O.  S.  F.,  Vice-Rector;  and  Professors,  Rev. 
Clement  Moorrnann,  O.  S.  F.,  Rev.  Floribert  Jas- 
pers, O.  S.  F.,  Rev.  P.  Ignatius  Reinkemeyer,  O.  S. 
F.,  Rev.  P.  Maurus  Brink,  O.  S.  F.,  Rev.  P.  Poly- 
carpus  Rhode,  O.  S.  F.,  Mr.  Gerhard  Shuette,  Brother 
Leopold  Breuer,  O.  S.  F.,  Brother  Philip  Staub- 
tin,  O.  S.  F.,  and  Mr.  Adam  Mueller.  The  music 
teachers  are  Rev.  P.  Floribert  Jasper,  O.S.  F.;  Rev. 
P.  Polycarpus  Rhode,  O.  S.  F.,  Brother  Leopold 
Breuer,  O.  S.  F.,  Brother  Philip  Staubtin,  O.  S.  F., 
and  Mr.  Adam  Mueller.  The  attending  physician 
is  Clement  Westhoelter,  M.  D.  The  members  of 
the  board  of  Ti  ustees  are:  President,  the  Rt.  Rev. 
James  Ryan,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of  Alton ;  Secretary,  the 
Very  Rev.  T.  Hicke}',  V.  G.;  and  Treasurer,  the 
Very  Rev.  Hugolinus  Storff,  Rector  of  the  Col- 
lege. 


*==*=*  J 


GODFREY  SCHNEIDER,  who  carries  on 
general  farming  on  section  32,  German 
xj..,^  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of  Richland 
County  for  more  than  half  a  century,  the  date  of 
his  settlement  here  being  1840.  He  is  a  prominent 
German  citizen  as  well  as  a  leading  agriculturist. 
He  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  November  7, 
1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  Schneider,  who  grew 
to  manhood  and  was  married  in  that  country.  With 
his  family  he  emigrated  to  the  New  World  in  1840, 
taking  passage  for  New  York  on  the  "Havre  de 
Grace,"  a  sailing-vessel,  which  made  the  voyage  in 
thirty-eight  days.  The  family  made  their  way  West- 
ward to  Canton,  Ohio,  and  a  few  weeks  later  went 
to  Louisville,  Ky.,  where  a  brother  of  Mr.  Schneider 
resided.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  they  came  to 


Illinois,  locating  in  what  is  now  Richland  County. 
The  father  entered  and  purchased  land  in  German 
Township, and  for  many  years  made  his  home  upon 
the  farm  which  he  there  developed.  At  length  lie 
sold  out  and  spent  his  last  days  in  the  home  of  his 
son  Godfrey,  dying  in  1866,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  seveut}'  years. 

Our  subject  remained  in  the  Fatherland  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  during  that  period  re- 
ceived good  school  privileges.  With  his  parents 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  he  remained  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  when  lie  started  out  in  life  for  himself. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  he 
chose  Rogina  Halm,  their  marriage  being  celebrated 
in  Vincennes,  Ind.,  in  1848.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  one-half 
of  which  Mr.  Schneider  obtained  of  his  father,  and 
the  other  half  entered  from  the  Government.  He 
continued  its  operation  until  1865,  when  .he  sold 
and  purchased  his  present  farm,  an  improved 
place  and  one  of  the  first  settled  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  on  the  old  stage  road  between  Lawrence 
and  Shelbyville.  It  was  formerly  owned  by  Jake 
May,  who  kept  a  postofflce  and  store  here  at  a  very 
early  day  and  traded  with  the  Indians.  Mr. 
Schneider  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  and  afterwards  bought  an  additional  forty- 
acre  tract.  He  owned  at  one  time  three  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  but  has  given  a  considerable 
amount  of  this  to  his  children.  His  farm  is  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  in  the  township,  being  well 
improved  with  all  necessary  buildings  and  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The  owner  began  life 
for  himself  empty-handed,  but  by  his  own  labor, 
enterprise  and  industry  he  has  acquired  a  valuable 
farm  and  a  good  home,  and  is  to-du3T  ranked  among 
the  substantial  citizens  of  Richland  County. 

Ten  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schneider:  Mary,  wife  of  Martin  Kocher;  Catherine, 
wife  of  Peter  Cooper;  Racliicl,  wife  of  Joseph 
G  inter;  Adelia,  wife  of  Andrew  Roth;  Philomena, 
who  married  Jo  Ren  near;  Louisa,  wife  of  Jacob 
Reunear;  Michael,  Simon  and  Jacob,  all  of  whom 
are  married  and  follow  farming  in  Richland  Coun- 
ty; and  Jo,  who  aids  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm. 


504 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  parents  and  their  children  are  all  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church.  Mr.  Schneider  was  form- 
erly identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  of 
late  years  has  been  independent,  supporting  the 
candidate  best  qualified  for  the  office.  He  has 
filled  several  official  positions  of  honor  and  trust, 
has  a  number  of  times  been  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  was  Highway  Commissioner  several  years, 
and  School  Treasurer  for  some  time.  His  various 
duties  he  discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity, 
proving  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer.  He  has  ever 
had  the  best  interests  of  the  community  at  heart, 
and  has  given  his  support  to  every  enterprise  cal- 
culated to  promote  the  general  welfare. 


MOS  H.  BEALS,  who  follows  farming  on 
section  13,  Wade  Township,  has  the  honor 
of  being  a  native  of  Illinois  and  is  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Jasper  County.  As 
such,  he  deserves  representation  in  this  volume 
and  with  pleasure  we  record  his  sketch.  He  was 
born  in  Cumberland  County,  111.,  December  13, 
1839.  His  father,  Bennett  Beals,  was  a  native  of 
Vermont,  and  the  grandfather,  Caleb  L.  Beals,  was 
also  born  in  New  England.  The  great-grandfather 
of  our  subject,  a  native  of  England,  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America.  Caleb  left  the 
East,  removing  to  Kentucky  and  from  there  to  In- 
diana, where  he  remained  for  a  few  years.  He  then 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Cumberland 
County,  111.,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
that  locality. 

After  attaining  his  majority,  Bennett  Beals  mar- 
ried Eunice,  daughter  of  William  Barrows,  who 
removed  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana,  where  the 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Beals  removed  to  Cumberland  Coun- 
ty, 111.,  where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  reared  his 
family.  The  year  1857  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Jasper  County,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days, 
being  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1868,  He  had 


served  in  the  Illinois  State  Militia  during  the  early 
days,  held  a  number  of  local  official  positions  of 
honor  and  trust,  and  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  a  number  of  terms,  both  in  Cumberland  and 
Jasper  Counties.  Mrs.  Beals  survived  her  husband 
for  several  years  and  died  in  1887. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  a  family  of 
five  sons  and  four  daughters,  but  he  and  a  brother 
are  now  the  only  survivors.  When  a  young  man 
of  eighteen  years  became  with  his  father  to  Jasper 
County,  where  he  arrived  on  the  4th  of  March. 
Under  the  parental  roof  he  remained  until  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  when,  on  the  5th  of  June,  1864, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rhoda  Ellen 
Wall,  one  of  Jasper  County's  fair  daughters. 

Mrs.  Beals'  parents  were  Francis  and  Frances 
Jane  (Brooks)  Wall,  and  both  were  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, Mrs.  Wall's  father  being  an  Englishman 
and  her  mother  Irish.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wall  had  a 
family  of  twelve  children  born  unto  them,  of 
whom  two  died  in  childhood  and  ten  grew  to  ma- 
turity, but  at  this  writing  only  seven  are  liv- 
ing. Mr.  Wall  died  December  19,  1870,  and  Mrs. 
Wall  just  a  week  later.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Her  father,  Francis 
Wall,  was  numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers 
of  this  county,  whither  he  removed  from  Indiana, 
having  resided  there  a  few  years  after  leaving  Vir- 
ginia, his  native  State. 

The  young  couple  began  wedded  life  in  Newton, 
where  Mr.  Beals  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
native  lumber  and  operated  a  sawmill  for  about 
ten  years.  During  that  period  he  purchased  a  good 
residence  property  and  greatly  improved  it,  mak- 
ing it  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  home.  In  1872, 
he  removed  to  his  farm.  lie  first  purchased  forty 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  were  only  a  few  improve- 
ments, but  he  cleared  and  fenced  the  tract,  has 
built  a  commodious  and  substantial  residence,  also 
good  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  now  has 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  locality.  Its  boundaries 
he  also  extended  by  the  purchase  of  an  additional 
sixty  acres.  He  has  also  purchased  one  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  of  bottom  lands,  which  he  has 
cleared  and  improved.  After  farming  for  four 
years,  Mr.  Beals  returned  to  Newton  and  again  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  for  about  a. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPII'CAL   RECORD. 


505 


year,  but  in  1877  he  again  took  up  his  residence 
upon  the  farm  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and 
attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  For  several 
years  he  has  also  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  stan- 
dard-bred horses.  He  owns  an  imported  English 
Shire  stallion,  the  best  in  the  county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beats  have  been  born  four 
children,  who  are  yet  living:  Stephen  O.,  who  is 
married  and  follows  farming  in  Jasper  County; 
Allard  I.,  who  married  MissZella  Babbs,  March  16, 
1893,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Wade  Township;  Charles 
II.  and  Burton  A.  They  lost  a  daughter,  Dora,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  months.  Mrs.  Beals  is  a 
member  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  Al- 
though not  a  member  of  any  church  organization, 
Mr.  Beals  attends  and  gives  his  support  to  the  dif- 
ferent churches  in  this  locality.  He  is  a  member 
of,  and  one  of  the  principal  stockholders  in,  the  Jas- 
per County  Fair  Association,  of  which  he  is  also  a 
Director.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Gen.  George  B.  McClellan  in  1864,  and  he  has 
voted  for  each  Presidential  nominee  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party  since  that  time. 

Our  subject  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Illinois, 
and  lias  resided  in  Jasper  County  thirty-six  years, 
during  which  time  he  has  witnessed  its  growth 
and  development  and  been  identified  with  its  prog- 
ress and  upbuilding.  He  is  one  of  its  most  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  citizens  and  is  known 
throughout  Jasper  and  the  adjoining  counties  as  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity,  who  has 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  busi- 
ness or  social  relations  have  brought  him  in 
contact. 


|;  OHN  BYRD,  who  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing on  section  7,  Crooked  Creek  Township, 
Jasper  County,  dates  his  residence  in  this 
community  from  1850,  and  has  therefore 
been  an  eye-witness  of  the  growth  and  upbuild- 
ing of  the  community  for  forty-three  years.  He 

26 


is  a  native  of  the  Hoosier  State.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Rush  County  on  the  22d  of  January, 
1847.  His  father,  Abram  Byrd,  was  also  born  in 
Indiana,  and,  on  attaining  to  man's  estate,  he  mar- 
ried Jane  Andrews,  a  native  of  Rush  County.  In 
1850,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he  removed  to 
Illinois  and  chose  Jasper  County  as  the  scene  of 
his  future  labors.  Entering  land  in  Crooked 
Creek  Township,  he  began  the  development  of  a 
farm,  but  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his 
new  home,  his  death  occurring  soon  after.  Mrs. 
B3'rd  survives  her  husband  and  has  reared  her  fam- 
ily. She  is  now  living  with  her  daughter,  and,  al- 
though she  has  reached  the  age  of  seventy,  she  is 
still  well  preserved. 

John  Byrd,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  only  son  in 
a  family  of  seven  children.  The  sisters  all  grew 
to  womanhood,  but  only  two  are  now  living.  He 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon 
his  mother's  farm,  and,  being  an  only  son,  much 
of  the  labor  of  cultivating  the  land  devolved 
upon  him.  His  educational  privileges  were  very 
limited — in  fact,  he  is  almost  self-educated.  After 
he  had  arrived  at  man's  estate  he  chose  as  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss  Phcel>e 
Brooks,  a  native  of  Jasper  County,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Eliphez  Brooks,  one  of  the  honored  pioneer 
settlers  of  this  community.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Byrd  removed  to  Moultrie  County,  111.,  where 
he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming.  There 
he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  eighteen 
years,  and  was  quite  successful  in  his -.undertak- 
ings. At  length  he  returned  to  Jasper  County, 
in  October,  1887,  and  bought  the  farm  on  which 
he  has  now  resided  for  six  years.  The  place  had 
no  improvements  upon  it,  but  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  its  development.  He  has  erected 
a  pleasant  and  substantial  home,  good  barns  and 
other  necessary  outbuildings,  has  planted  an  orch- 
ard, and  now  has  the  place  well  supplied  with  all 
the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byrd  have  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Vienna,  wife  of  William  Duoit, 
of  Moultrie  County;  Rosanna,  wife  of  Ross  Cum- 
mins, of  Jasper  Count}1;  Lulu,  Ada,  William,  Etta 
and  Rachel.  The  eldest  child  of  their  family,  a 
daughter,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Byrd  deserves 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


great  credit  for  his  success  in  life,  which  is  en- 
tirely the  result  of  his  own  well-directed  efforts. 
Pimply-handed  he  started  out  in  life,  but  the  ob- 
stacles and  difficulties  in  his  path  he  has  overcome 
by  determined  effort  and  has  acquired  for  himself 
a  comfortable  competence.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions he  is  a  Republican,  and  has  supported  each 
Presidential  nominee  of  that  party  since  casting 
his  first  vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 


LIJAH  NELSON,  the  oldest  resident  of 
Richland  County,  and  an  honored  citizen, 
I' — Ji  resides  on  section  29,  Olney  Township.  He 
was  born  in  South  Carolina,  March  15,  1803,  and 
is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  fourteen  children, 
eight  sons  and  six  daughters,  nine  of  whom  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood.  The  parents  were  James 
and  Sarah  (Ford)  Nelson.  The  former  was  born 
on  the  James  River,  in  Buckingham  County,  Va., 
where  he  remained  until  about  thirty  years  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  South  Carolina.  He  had  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  when  a  young  man  and  fol- 
lowed the  same  during  his  early  life,  but  later  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Accompanied  by  his  wife,  our 
subject  and  one  daughter,  he  emigrated  to  Rich- 
land  County,  111.,  in  1820,  and,  purchasing  wild 
land,  opened  up  a  farm.  He  thereon  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-three  years.  He  was  of  Dutch  extraction. 
His  wife  was  also  born  in  Buckingham  County, 
Va.,  and  died  at  the  age  of  about  seventy-eight 
years. 

When  a  small  child,  Elijah  Nelson  went  with 
his  parents  to  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  and  then  accompanied  the 
family  to  Posey  County,  Ind.  In  1820,  as  before 
stated,  he  came  to  Richland  County.  He  was  then 
a  young  man  of  seventeen  years.  He  remained 
upon  the  home  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  for  some 
years  operated  it.  He  also  extended  its  boun- 
daries from  time  to  time,  until  he  owned  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  located  about  two  miles 


west  of  the  present  city  of  Olney.  His  nearest 
neighbor  was  then  three  miles  distant,  and  the 
population  of  the  county  numbered  only  a  few 
families.  The  nearest  market  was  at  Vincennes, 
Ind..  a  distance  of  thirty  miles. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  1830,  Mr.  Nelson  was 
married  to  Lucy  Bunch,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky and  came  with  her  parents  in  an  early  day 
to  Illinois.  She  died  April  1,  1845,  leaving  two 
sons  and  four  daughters,  but  the  latter  are  now 
deceased.  William  R.,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Confederate  army,  now  follows  farming  in  Arkan- 
sas. James  Robert,  who  was  one  of  the  boys  in 
blue,  now  resides  in  Arkansas  City,  Kan.  Mr. 
Nelson  was  again  married,  February  22,  1850,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mrs.  M.  J.  Lanier,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Minerva  Simmons, and  who  was 
born  in  Poscy  County,  Ind.,  March  6,  1819.  They 
became  parents  of  one  son  and  two  daughters.  The 
eldest,  La  Fayette,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  this 
county,  was  born  March  19,  1851,  and  in  1871 
married  Catherine  Slover,  of  Richland  County. 
They  had  two  children:  Dora,  wife  of  Elmer Cum- 
mings,  a  farmer  of  Champaign  Count}-;  and  Stella. 
Mrs.  Nelson  died  in  March,  1877,  and  on  the  9th  of 
May,  1878,  La  Fayette  Nelson  wedded  Martha  J. 
Brothers,  and  a  son  graces  this  union,  Marion  L. 
They  have  a  pleasant  country  home,  situated  in 
the  midst  of  a  good  farm  of  sixty  acres.  Martha 
J.,  the  second  of  the  Nelson  children,  is  the  wife 
of  William  Fentz,  a  farmer  of  this  county.  Ellen 
is  the  wife  of  Tom  Merricle,  an  agriculturist  of 
Wayne  County. 

Mr.  Nelson  remained  upon  his  father's  farm  near 
Olney  from  1820  until  )  865.  He  also  ran  a  tavern, 
and  his  home  was  a  stage-station  for  a  number  of 
years  on  the  stage  line  between  Vincennes,  Ind., 
and  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  also  engaged  in  teaming 
from  the  time  of  his  arrival  until  the  railroad  was 
built,  hauling  provisions  for  the  villages  and  the 
neighborhood.  In  1841,  when  Richlund  Count}- 
was  organized,  Mr.  Nelson  was  one  of  the  three 
appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  survey  the  county, 
and  was  one  of  its  Commissioners  for  a  number  of 
years  in  an  early  day.  He  hauled  the  logs  to 
build  the  first  jail  and  the  first  County  Court 
House.  This  was  in  1843.  In  1839  he  hauled  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


507 


logs  for  the  first  schoolhousc  of  Olney.  This  was 
also  used  as  a  church  and  court  house.  Probably 
no  man  in  Richland  County  has  done  more  for  its 
development  and  upbuilding  than  our  subject, 
who,  in  earlier  days  especially,  was  prominent  in 
all  public  works  of  improvement. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Nelson  has  been  an  inflexible 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party  since  casting  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson.  Sev- 
enty-three years  of  his  life  have  been  passed  in 
this  community,  and  no  other  citizen  of  Richlaud 
County  has  so  long  resided  within  its  borders.  He 
and  liis  wife  now  reside  upon  their  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  located  five  miles  south- 
west of  Olney.  Although  he  has  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years,  he  is  still  enjoying 
good  health,  does  his  own  chores,  chops  his  wood 
and  goes  regularly  to  Olney  twice  a  week.  As  a 
building  would  be  without  a  foundation,  so  would 
Richland  County  be  without  the  work  of  Mr.  Nel- 
son. His  name  is  inseparably  connected  with  its 
history,  his  label's  with  its  development,  and  his 
progressive  spirit  with  its  upbuilding.  He  can 
never  be  forgotten  by  the  citizens  of  this  commu- 
nity, for  the  part  which  he  has  played  has  been 
too  prominent  a  one  for  his  memory  to  fade  away. 


M'ACOB  F.  MICHAEL,  one  of  the  honored 
veterans  of  the  late  war,  and  a  leading  farm- 
er of  Bonpas  Township,  Richland  County, 
residing  on  section  14,  is  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  The  place  of  his  birth  was  near 
Loudonville,  Wayne  County,  and  the  date  on  which 
he  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  was 
July  27,  1835.  His  parents  were  William  and  Sa- 
rah (Army)  Michael,  both  of  whom  «vere  natives 
of  Berks  County,  Pa.  The  family  is  of  German 
origin,  and  was  founded  in  America  by  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject.  The  grandparents 
were  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Michael.  William  Mi- 
chael emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1827,  and  there  re- 
sided until  1840,  when  he  emigrated  with  his  fam- 


ily to  Lawrence  County,  111.,  settling  near  Sumner. 
He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  but  in  this  State 
followed  agricultural  pin-suits.  The  latter  years  of 
his  life  were  spent  at  the  home  of  our  subject  in 
Claremont  Township,  where  he  died  March  19, 1871, 
on  his  seventy-seventh  birthday.  His  wife  died 
December  18,  1873.  She  was  born  December  4, 
1795,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Conrad  and  Elizabeth 
Army.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were  interred 
in  Bryant  Cemetery,  of  Lawrence  County. 

James  Michael,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  with  his 
father  in  Lawrence  County,  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads.  When  he  was  about  thirteen  years 
of  age,  his  father  opened  a  country  store,  and  Jacob 
engaged  in  clerking  in  the  same  until  about  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  He  received  such  educational 
advantages  as  the  common  schools  of  those  days 
afforded.  After  leaving  the  store  he  was  married 
and  began  life  as  a  farmer.  It  was  on  the  27th  of 
April,  1854,  that  he  married  Catherine  Bowman, 
a  native  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  Bowman,  of  Lawrence 
County,  111. 

Mr.  Michael  secured  forty  acres  of  land  in  Law- 
rence County,  to  which  he  afterwards  added  an 
eighty-acre  tract.  In  connection  with  the  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement  of  his  farm,  he  also  followed 
carpentering  at  intervals,  but  he  laid  aside  all  bus- 
iness cares  on  the  28th  of  June,  1862,  to  enter  the 
service  of  his  country.  He  became  a  member  of 
Company  K,  Seventieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
stationed  at  Camp  Butler  and  Alton  until  receiv- 
ing his  discharge,  October  3,  1862. 

Returning  to  his  home,  Mr.  Michael  resumed 
farming.  In  1864,  he  sold  his  land  in  Lawrence 
County,  and  came  to  Richlaud  County,  purchas- 
ing a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Claremont  Township. 
To  its  development  he  devoted  his  energies  until 
1881,  when  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  five 
hundred  and  seventy-four  acres,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  made  many 
improvements  upon  the  place,  has  enlarged  his 
pleasant  residence,  has  planted  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees,  and  the  well-kept  grounds  around  his 
home  add  much  to  the  beauty  and  attractiveness  of 
the  place. 


508 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Michael  have  had  u  family  of  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Sarah  E.;  Rose  Anna,  wife  of 
A.  Gaddy;  William  W.,  a  farmer  of  Bon  pas  Town- 
ship; Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  S.  Perrott;  Mary  E.,  who 
died  in  infancy;  David  S.,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Martin  M.,  deceased;  Milton  M.,  twin  brother  of 
Martin;  Henry  L.,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  and  Harrison  L.  a  school  teacher  of 
Richland  County. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Michael  is  a  Re- 
.  publican,  having  voted  with  that  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  Presidential  ballot  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. For  several  years  he  has  served  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  discharging  his  duties  with  promptness 
and  fidelity.  Socially,  he  is  connected  with  John 
Watts  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Sunnier.  His  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
Michael  is  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  respected 
citizens  of  Richland  County.  Fair  and  honorable 
in  his  dealings,  pleasant  and  affable  in  manner,  he 
has  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all  with  whom 
business  or  pleasure  has  brought  him  in  contact. 


^yp,)  VERSMAN,  WOOD  &  ENGBRING,  a  well- 
known  private  banking  firm  of  Effingham, 
was  established  in  this  place  in  September, 
1881,  and  has  now  been  uninterruptedly  in  suc- 
cessful business  for  nearly  twelve  years.  The  pro- 
prietors are  Dr.  Henry  Eversmau,  Hon.  Benson 
Wood,  Virgil  Wood,  lawyers,  William  H.  Engbring 
and  Mrs.  Catharine  Engbring,  all  citizens  of  Effing- 
ham,  of  high  business  standing  and  well-known 
personal  responsibility.  Dr.  Henry  Eversman  has 
served  as  cashier  of  the  bank  since  its  opening,  and 
W.  H.  Engbring  as  his  assistant. 

This  bank  has  done  a  safe  and  profitable  business 
from  the  start,  and  its  deposits  have  steadily  in- 
creased since  its  doors  were  first  opened.  Its  man- 
agement has  been  conservative,  and  it  has  been  a 
settled  policy  of  its  proprietors  not  to  engage  in 
any  speculative  business  whereby  the  security  of 
their  patrons  might  possibly  be  jeopardized.  Con- 


sequently it  has  grown  in  favor,  and  enjoys  the 
fullest  confidence  of  its  numerous  patrons,  while 
it  has  won  a  foremost  place  among  the  best  finan- 
cial institutions  in  southern  Illinois. 


UFUS  C.  HARRAH,  a  well-known  citizen 
of  Effingham,  has  held  the  position  of 
State's  Attorney  of  Effingham  County  since 
1880,  or  for  the  long  period  of  thirteen 
consecutive  years.  His  long  continuance  in  this 
office  well  indicates  the  faithful  and  efficient  man- 
ner in  which  he  has  discharged  his  duties.  He 
occupies  a  high  place  in  the  regard  and  esteem  of 
those  with  whom  business  or  social  relations  have 
brought  him  in  contact,  and  as  he  is  a  representa- 
tive citizen  of  this  place  he  well  deserves  represen- 
tation in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 

Mr.  Harrah  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ind., 
October  10,  1846.  His  father,  Daniel  F.  Harrah, 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his  mother,  Per- 
inelia  (Vermillion)  Harrah,  was  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana. In  1858,  when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of 
twelve  years,  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  took  u| 
their  residence  in  Jasper  County,  where  they  still 
make  their  home.  They  are  now  living  in  Grove 
Township  upon  a  farm,  the  father  having  1 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  as  a  means  of  liveli- 
hood. 

Rufus  C.  Harrah,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
spent  the  first  twelve  years  of  his  life  in  the  Stat 
of  his  birth,  and  then   came  to  Illinois    with    his 
parents,  as  before  stated.     In  the  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads  he  passed  the  days  of  his  childhooo 
His  early  education  was  acquired  in  the  commor 
schools,  after  which  he  became  a  student  in   West 
field  College.     He  remained  in  Jasper  County  un- 
til 1872,  when,  leaving  home,  he  came  toEffinghan 
and   began   preparing   himself  for   the  profession 
which  he  now  follows.     He  entered  upon  the  study 
of  law  with  J.  N.  Gwin,  and  after  thorough  prep- 
aration passed  an    examination  nnd   was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  in    1874.     He   at   once    entered    upon 


PJRTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


practice  in  this  place,  and  has  since  been  recog- 
nized as  one  of  its  successful  lawyers.  In  1873  he 
was  elected  Police  Magistrate,'  and  held  that  office 
for  a  period  of  seven  years,  when,  in  1880,  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney.  So  ably  did  he  discharge 
the  duties  of  that  office  that  on  the  expiration  of 
his  four-years  term  he  was  re-elected,  and  now 
for  thirteen  years  he  has  filled  that  position  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1873,  Mr.  Harrah  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Ellen  Warren,  the  wed- 
ding ceremony  being  performed  in  Jasper  Count}'. 
The  Indy  was  born  in  Page  County,  Va.,  and  in 
1852  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  Kibler.  Unto  our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  born  two  children,  sons,  Robert 
and  William,  who  are  still  under  the  parental  roof. 

In  the  line  of  his  profession  Mr.  Harrah  has  won 
a  reputation  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud.  He 
is  an  able  lawyer,  well  versed  in  his  profession,  an 
earnest  and  indefatigable  advocate,  and  a  man  of 
broad  resources,  and  his  success  is  well  merited. 


^ILLIAM    H.  THOMAS, 

V    ouerates   one    hundred 


who    owns    and 

operates  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
acres  of  arable  land  on  section  14,  Wade 
Township,  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  respected 
farmers  of  Jasper  County.  He  claims  Virginia  as 
tht  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Shenandoah  County,  March  2,  1841.  He  is  a 
son  of  Abram  and  Mary  (Riffey)  Thomas,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  as  were  the 
grandfathers  of  our  subject,  Gabriel  Thomas  and 
John  Riffey.  After  his  marriage,  Abram  Thomas 
engaged  in  farming  for  a  few  years  in  his  native 
Slate,  and  in  1844  emigrated  Westward  with  his 
family  until  he  reached  Illinois.  He  came  to 
Jasper  Count}-  when  Newton  had  but  one  store  and 
a  few  small  dwellings.  Mr.  Thomas  was  a  car- 
penter by  trade  and  followed  that  business  here  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  in  August,  1845.  Mrs. 


Thomas  still  survives  her  husband  and  is  living 
with  her  son.  She  is  still  well  preserved  and  her 
eighty-two  years  rest  lightly  upon  her. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  William  H.  Thomas, 
whose  name  heads  this  record,  went  to  live  with 
Christley  McCall,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  He  had  few  privi- 
leges, educational  or  otherwise,  having  to  spend 
all  his  time  at  farm  work.  On  arriving  at  man's 
estate,  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself.  Through  industry  and  good  management, 
he  acquired  a  small  capital  and  soon  purchased  a 
forty-acre  tract  of  timberland,  which  he  cleared, 
plowed  and  planted,  transforming  it  into  a  good 
farm.  Success  attended  his  efforts  in  this  direction, 
and  as  his  financial  resources  have  increased  he  has 
made  additional  purchases  from  time  to  time  until 
he  now  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  of 
valuable  land.  His  farm  is  well  improved  and  the 
rich  and  fertile  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  labor. 

Mr.  Thomas  has  been  three  times  married.  In 
April,  1862,  he  wedded  Miss  Nancy  Miller,  who 
died  the  following  year,  leaving  a  daughter,  Mary, 
now  the  wife  of  Levi  Bird,  of  Richland  County. 
In  1870  Mr.  Thomas  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Daniels,  who  at  her  death  left  a  son, 
John  A.,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Jasper  County.  On  Christmas  Day  of  1873  was 
celebrated  the  union  of  Mr.  Thomas  and  Miss 
Melinda  Jane  Smith,  a  native  of  Shelby  County, 
111.,  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Smith,  who  died 
when  Mrs.  Thomas  was  a  child  of  three  years. 
By  this  union  six  children  have  been  born,  namely: 
Cora  F.,  Margaret  II.,  William  Perry,  Effie  M., 
Kye  E.,  and  Ada  M. 

Mr.  Thomas  is  a  public-spirited  and  progiessive 
citizen  and  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  upbuilding 
those  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.  He  follows  in  the  political  footsteps  of 
his  ancestors,  being  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Democracy.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  New- 
ton Lodge  of  Red  Men.  His  success  in  life  has 
been  the  result  of  his  own  efforts.  Empty-handed 
he  started  out  for  himself,  but  by  industry  and  en- 
terprise he  overcame  the  difficulties  in  his  path 
and  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  posi- 


510 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  among  the  substantial  farmers  of  this  com- 
munity. Mr.  Thomas  is  also  numbered  among  the 
honored  pioneers  of  Jasper  Count3',  almost  half  a 
century  having  passed  since  he  here  located.  lie 
has  seen  the  progress  and  development  which  have 
transformed  it  from  a  sterile  or  swampy  place  into 
rich  farms  and  prosperous  homes.  He  has  seen 
towns  and  villages  spring  up  and  the  work  of 
civilization  carried  forward,  until  the  county  of  to- 
day bears  no  resemblance  to  that  of  fifty  years 
ago. 


ILTON  MATTHEWS  is  engaged  in  fann- 
ing on  section  25,  Wade  Township,  Jasper 
County,  and  is  also  the  proprietor  of  a 
meat-market  in  Newton.  He  does  a  good 
business  and  is  one  of  the  well-known  citizens  of 
this  community.  He  was  born  in  Morgan  County, 
Ind.,  September  9,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
Matthews,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  went  to  In- 
diana when  a  young  man  with  his  father,  George 
Matthews.  The  grandfather  opened  up  a  farm  in 
Morgan  County  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  James 
grew  to  manhood  in  Morgan  County  and  married 
Miss  Ann  Noble,  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  followed  that  business 
throughout  his  entire  life.  In  the  early  days  he 
made  several  trips  to  New  Orleans  on  flatboats. 
He  died  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  forty-three  years, 
while  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two.  Mrs.  James  Matthews 
survived  her  husband  and  was  a  second  time  mar- 
ried. She  died  in  Wade  Township,  Jasper  County, 
March  15,  1889,  and  her  remains  were  taken  to 
Morgan  County,  Ind.,  for  interment. 

The  Matthews  family  numbered  seven  children, 
who  grew  to  mature  years.  Wiley  was  a  soldier 
of  the  late  war,  and  is  now  a  merchant,  Postmaster 
and  farmer  of  Dickens,  Lincoln  County,  Neb  ;  Al- 
fred was  a  soldier  and  died  in  the  service  in  1864, 
from  the  effects  of  a  wound  received  while  de- 


fending the  union;  Milton  is  the  next  younger; 
Miles,  twin  brother  of  Milton,  was  also  in  the 
Union  army,  and  is  now  a  contractor  and  builder 
in  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  James  resides  in  Missouri; 
Emily,  who  is  now  deceased,  was  twice  married, 
becoming  the  wife  of  Mr.  Fulkerson,  and  after 
his  death  marrying  Mr.  Kerns;  and  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  Henry  Gairett,  of  Morgan  County, 
Ind. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in 
Morgan  County,  Ind.  When  a  young  man  of 
only  seventeen,  he  responded  to  his  country's  call 
for  troops,  enlisting  April  27,  1864,  in  Coles 
County,  111.,  as  a  member  of  Company  E,  Fifth 
Illinois  Cavalry.  He  joined  the  regiment  at  Vicks- 
burg  and  participated  in  a  number  of  raids  and 
skirmishes.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  mus- 
tered out,  and  received  his  discharge  in  Spring- 
field in  October,  1865.  When  the  country  no 
longer  needed  his  services  he  returned  to  Morgan 
County,  Ind.,  and  began  working  on  a  farm.  In 
the  fall  of  1867  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at 
Diona,  on  the  county  line  between  Coles  and 
Cumberland  Counties,  and  there  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising for  three  years. 

Mr.  Matthews  was  married  in  Coles  County 
February  18,  1869,  to  Miss  Minta,  a  daughter  of 
G.  S.  Fulkerson.  The  father  and  daughter  were 
both  natives  of  Virginia,  and  the  family  came  to 
Illinois  when  Mrs.  Matthews  was  a  maiden  of 
about  eight  summers.  The  young  couple  began 
their  domestic  life  in  Diona,  and  in  1870  Mr. 
Matthews  sold  out  his  mercantile  business  and 
located  on  a  farm  in  Cumberland  County,  111.  A 
short  time  afterward,  however,  he  went  to  Jasper 
County,  Mo.,  and  a  year  later  took  up  a  claim  in 
Wilson  County,  Kan.  A  year's  residence  in  that 
State  sufficed,  and  he  returned  to  the  old  home 
stead  in  Indiana,  which  he  operated  for  two  year 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  again  went 
to  Diona,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  1883  we  find  him  in  Morgan  County  ( 
Ind.,  engaged  in  the  operation  of  the  old  home 
stead  for  his  mother.  There  he  spent  three  year 
and  in  1886  came  to  Jasper  County.  He  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  and  has 
since  devoted  his  energies  to  its  cultivation.  He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


511 


has  built  a  pleasant  residence  and  made  many 
other  desirable  improvements,  which  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  The  home 
is  pleasantly  located  within  two  miles  of  New- 
ton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  have  a  family  of  eight 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Lindley,  is  now 
married  and  carries  on  a  part  of  the  home  farm; 
Luther  is  now  living  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.: 
Christa  is  at  home;  James  is  a  resident  of  North 
Dakota;  Clarence,  Roger,  Oscar  and  George  are 
still  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Matthews  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  of  the  Newton  Grand  Army  Post.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Falmouth  Protestant 
Methodist  Church.  In  politics  lie  is  a  Republican 
and  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party. 
He  is  to-day  one  of  the  prosperous  and  well-to-do 
farmers  of  Jasper  County,  a  position  he  has  at- 
tained through  his  own  efforts.  He  has  good 
business  ability,  is  energetic  and  enterprising,  and 
in  the  legitimate  channels  of  business  he  has 
gained  a  good  property. 


1  AMES  L.  GILMORE,  who  now  resides  in  the 
city  of  Etfingham,  is  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  that  county,  long  and  favorably 
known  as  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and 
Recorder  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan, now  Wolf,  County,  Ky.,  April  30,  1827,  and 
is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Lansaw)  Gilmore. 
His  father  was  born  in  Alabama,  November  7, 
1802,  and  was  brought  to  Kentucky  when  young. 
He  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  in  that  Slate, 
and  there  he  married.  Subsequently  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Marion  County, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Fayelte  County,  of  this 
State,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1862.  His  wife, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
in  1806,  and  her  last  days  were  spent  in  Effingham 
County,  whence  she  was  called  to  her  final  home 
in  1878. 


James  L.  Gilmore  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents in  1835,  and  resided  for  a  time  in  Marion 
County.  He  afterward  removed  with  the  family 
to  Fayette  County,  and  in  1847,  almost  a-half  cen- 
tury ago,  came  to  Effingham  County.  The  days 
of  his  boyhood  were  quietly  spent  under  the  pa- 
rental roof.  In  the  summer  months  he  aided  his 
father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter 
months  attended  school,  receiving  such  educa- 
tional advantages  as  the  public  schools  of  those 
early  days  afforded.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
was  married.  In  Effingham  County  in  1848,  he 
wedded  Miss  Cynthia  Seales,  a  native  of  Smith 
County,  Tenn.,  born  January  3,  1827,  and  a 
daughter  of  Solomon  Seales  (deceased),  who  was 
one  of  the  very  flrst  settlers  in  this  part  of  the 
the  State. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Gilmore  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  West  Township,  Effingham 
County,  which  he  still  owns,  and  where  he  was  en- 
gaged successfully  in  fanning  until  his  election  to 
the  office  of  County  Clerk.  When  he  was  chosen 
by  the  people  for  that  position,  he  removed  to 
Effingham,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  His 
farm,  which  is  a  well-improved  and  valuable  tract 
of  land,  embraces  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  or 
a  full  section.  He  at  one  time  owned  a  larger 

O 

amount,  but  as  a  present  he  gave  to  his  son,  J.  P. 
Gilmore,  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres. 

Eleven  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gilmore,  of  whom  five  are  yet  living, 
one  son  and  four  daughters.  William  H.  died  in 
1882;  John  P.  married  Miss  Josephine  Marion, and 
is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  West  Town- 
ship; Mary  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Burch,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  West  Township;  Margaret  A.  is  the 
wife  of  James  R.  Scott,  who  is  living  in  Edge- 
wood;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  John  Thompson,  a 
farmer  of  Edgewood;  Frances  Jenuette  married 
J.  G.  Townseud,  and  they  reside  in  Nashville,  111.; 
Uriah  and  Jennie  are  deceased;  and  three  died 
in  early  childhood. 

For  fourteen  years  Mr.  Gilmore  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Supervisor  of  West  Township,  and  his  long- 
continued  service  well  indicates  the  prompt  and 


512 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


faithful  manner  in  which  he  discharged  his  duties. 
In  1882  he  was  elected  County  Clerk  of  Effingham 
County,  and  after  serving  a  term  of  four  years  in 
that  capacity,  he  was  elected  Recorder  and  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court,  serving  in  that  office  for  four 
years.  He  has  also  been  Alderman  in  the  Effing- 
ham  Cit3'  Council.  His  public  and  private  life  are 
alike  above  reproach,  and  his  official  career  has 
been  one  of  honor.  In  political  sentiment,  Mr. 
Gilmore  is  a  Democrat.  In  his  social  relations,  he 
is  a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  and  belongs  to  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Cornmandery  of  Effing- 
ham.  His  wife  and  daughters  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  the  family  is  one  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community,  its  members  ranking  high 
in  social  circles. 


OSEPH  L.  BROOKS,  proprietor  of  the  Mc- 
|  Murtry  House,  of  Noble,  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance in  this  community,  and  we 
therefore  feel  assured  that  this  record  of 
his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our 
readers.  He  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pa., 
April  9,  1847.  His  paternal  grandparents,  Joseph 
and  Dorotha  (Basmger)  Brooks,  were  also  natives 
of  the  Keystone  State.  The  former  was  a  farmer 
and  stock-dealer.  His  death  occurred  in  1863,  at 
the  age  of  sixty -eight  years,  and  his  wife,  who 
passed  away  November  4, 1891,  was  nearly  ninety- 
five  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Her 
entire  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  in  Fayette 
County  where  her  birth  occurred. 

Jacob  Brooks,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  the  Keystone  State,  and  was  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith.  lie  married  Elizabeth  Gallen tine,  and 
unto  them  were  born  six  children,  of  whom  Abram 
and  Elizabeth  are  now  deceased.  The  living  are 
Dorotha,  Joseph  L.,  Jane  and  Sarah.  The  first  is 
the  wife  of  Austin  King,  of  Fayette  County,  Pa.; 
Jane  is  the  wife  of  George  Clevenger;  and  Sarah 
is  the  wife  of  Freeman  Eicher.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  May  4,  1855,  in  her  thirty-third 


year.  She  was  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Mr.  Brooks  afterward  wedded  Mrs.  Chris- 
tina Resler,  widow  of  Daniel  Resler,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Dull,  of  Pennsylvania.  Four  daugh- 
ters were  born  of  this  union:  Martha,  wife  of 
George  Eicher;  Emma,  wife  of  Norman  Leighliter; 
Melinda,  who  married  Allen  Kern,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; and  Alice,  deceased,  wife  of  the  Rev.  John 
Leichliter.  The  father  of  this  family  died  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1870,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  A 
quiet,  unassuming  man,  he  had  the  respect  of  all. 
With  the  United  Brethren  Church  he  held  mem- 
bership. 

Joseph  L.  Brooks,  our  subject,  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  quietly  upon  the  old  home  farm,  giv- 
ing his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until 
twenty-two  3rears  of  age.  In  1873  he  emigrated 
to  Wayne  County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  six  years.  He  then  traded  his  land  for  a 
sawmill,  which  he  operated  for  three  years.  Sell- 
ing out  at  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he  spent 
the  next  eighteen  months  of  his  life  in  Tama  City, 
Iowa,  after  which  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Mt. 
Erie,  111.,  where  he  followed  blacksmithing  for 
three  years.  He  is  now  engaged  in  hotel-keeping 
in  Noble. 

Mr.  Brooks  was  married  March  31,  1870,  to  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Resler.  Her  parents,  David  and  Rachel 
(Lorr)  Resler,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
residents  of  Wayne  County,  111.  Her  father  was 
a  blacksmith  in  early  life  and  was  a  Captain  of 
volunteers.  In  April,  1870,  he  went  to  Wayne 
County,  111.,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  now  living 
in  Mt.  Erie.  Their  family  numbered  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and  with  the  exception  of  one 
who  died  in  infancy  all  are  now  living.  Martha 
V.,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  John  W.  Seneff,  of 
Mt.  Erie,  111.,  and  they  have  five  children:  M.  B. 
Lorr,  William  C.,  David  H.,  Eudora  and  Alice  R. 
Philip  M.  is  now  deceased.  John  N.  married  Miss 
Lucy  J.  Scott  and  has  three  sons:  Charles  1)., 
Robert  and  Lewis.  They  live  near  Mt.  Erie.  Mary 
E.  is  the  wife  of  William  K.  Brooks,  a  farmer  re- 
siding near  Fairfield,  111.,  by  whom  she  has  four 
children:  Harry  M..  Calvin  R.,  Clark  H.  and  David 
R.  Sarah  E.  is  the  twin  sister  of  Mai-}'.  Joan  is 
the  wife  of  the  Rev.  D.  R.  Seneff.  a  minister  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


513 


United  Brethren  Church  and  a  soldier  of  the  late 
war.  They  live  in  Center  Point,  Ind.,and  have  four 
children:  Edna  E.,  Rachel  E.,  Leila  S.  and  Carrie. 
Michael  Burns  L.  wedded  Cordelia  J.  Dickey,  and 
with  their  two  children,  EfHe  Irene  and  Thornton, 
they  reside  in  Mt.  Erie.  Catherine  L.,  the  young- 
est of  the  Resler  family,  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Adams,  who  served  for  three  years  in  the  late  war, 
and  now  makes  his  home  in  Mt.  Erie.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Mabel  R. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  four  daughters,  viz:  David 
N.,  Ira  L.,  Rachel  E.  and  Burns  A.  (twins),  Maud 
E.,  Annie  E.  and  Erie  E.,  but  only  Ira  and  Eric 
are  now  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  hold  mem- 
bership witli  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The}' 
are  people  of  sterling  worth,  and  their  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character  have  won  them  the  warm 
regard  of  many  friends.  In  politics  Mr.  Brooks 
was  formerly  a  Democrat,  but  now  affiliates  with 
the  Prohibition  party.  The  cause  of  temperance 
finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and  he  does  all  in  hia 
power  to  promote  ever}'  enterprise  or  interest 
that  is  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit.  His 
hotel  is  a  well-kept  house,  and  that  it  has  found 
favor  with  the  traveling  public  is  shown  by  the 
liberal  patronage  accorded  it. 


\  OBERT  R.  ROBARDS,  a  contractor  in  the 
line  of  plastering  and  brick  work,  carries 
on  business  in  Noble  and  enjoys  a  good 
trade,  which  is  well  deserved.  As  he  has 
a  wide  acquaintance  in  this  community,  we  feel 
assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of 
interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  Mr.  Robards  was 
born  in  Mercer  County,  Ky.,  August  18,  1864,  and 
his  parents,  John  P.  and  Sophrona  J.  (Dcdman) 
Robards,  were  also  natives  of  the  same  State.  Of 
German  origin  is  the  Robards  family,  but  the 
grandfather,  Lewis  Robards,  was  born  in  Virginia. 
He  reared  a  family  of  sixteen  children,  twelve  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  died  in  Kentucky  at  an 


advanced  age.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  John  P.  Dedman,  was  also  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  was  of  English  lineage.  In  an  early 
day  he  went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  reared  his 
family  of  six  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Flis  death  occur- 
red February  1,  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight, 
and  his  wife  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  the  fall 
of  1881,  when  eighty-eight  years  of  age. 

John  Robards  was  a  plasterer  and  followed  that 
trade  in  Kentucky  until  1871.  when  he  came  to 
Richland  County,  locating  in  German  Township, 
six  miles  south  of  Olney.  There  he  lived  twelve 
years,  but  his  sons  operated  the  farm  while  he 
did  plastering.  In  1883,  he  came  to  Noble,  and 
in  this  village  passed  away,  January  2.5,  1887,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-two.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church,  as  is  his  wife, 
who  is  still  living  in  Noble.  Mr.  Robards  was 
also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Mutual  Aid,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  Of  the  five  sons  and  six 
daughters  in  the  Robards  family,  eight  are  now 
living,  namely:  John  P.,  Robert  L.,  Mary  Ann, 
Charles  M.,  Susan  O.,  Farra  L.,  Mtittie  J.  and 
Thomas  E. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  lived  upon  a  farm  from  the  age  of 
seven  years  until  he  had  attained  to  man's  estate. 
When  a  boy  he  learned  the  plasterer's  trade,  which 
he  followed  in  connection  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1891.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Noble 
and  for  a  few  months  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising. He  then  sold  out  and  has  since  been 
a  contractor.  He  takes  contracts  on  an  extensive 
scale,  doing  work  in  all  the  surrounding  counties. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1890,  Mr.  Robards  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  O'Donnell,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Annie  (Ball)  O'Donnell,  of  Olney,  whose  parents 
were  natives  of  Ireland.  Her  father  is  a  retired 
farmer  and  owns  several  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Noble  Township.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
a  pleasant  home  in  Noble  and  are  numbered  among 
the  most  highly  respected  people  of  the  commu- 
nity. 

Besides  his  own  residence  our  subject  owns  an- 
other house  and  lot  in  Noble.  In  politics,  he  is  a 


514 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Democrat,  and  has  twice  served  as  Tax  Collector 
of  his  township.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Noble  Lodge  No.  482, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  En- 
campment, and  belongs  to  Camp  No.  1281,  N.  W. 
A.  With  the  Christian  Church  he  holds  member- 
ship, and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  In  the  line  of  his  trade,  Mr.  Robards 
has  met  with  excellent  success.  He  has  worked 
up  an  excellent  business,  and  by  his  fair  and  honor- 
able dealing  has  gained  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  his  many  patrons. 


-1  — - 


ERNARD  FALLER  was  an  honored  pioneer 
\    and    influential    business   man    of   Jasper 


County,  111.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Barr,  Alsace.  France,  now  a  province  of 
Germany,  on  the  12th  of  August,  1822,  and  was  a 
son  of  Florence  and  Helena  (Mercien)  Faller. 
Our  subject  was  educated  in  his  native  country, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  company  with  three  of  his  brothers  and  his 
aunt,  Mary  Ann  Mercien.  The  brothers  who  ac- 
companied him  were  Edward,  Isadore  and  Flor- 
ence. The  first-named  is  now  Rector  of  St.  Mary's 
Catholic  Church,  of  New  Albany,  Ind.  The  sec- 
ond was  drowned  in  the  Embarras  River,  in  Jasper 
County,  at  the  age  of  sixteen;  and  Florence  died 
two  years  after  coming  to  this  country. 

A  few  months  after  their  arrival  here  the 
brothers  were  joined  by  other  members  of  the 
family,  including  Francis,  who  settled  in  Jasper 
County,  and  died  in  1888;  Xavier,  who  came  in 
1853,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  tanning  and 
leather  business  in  Chicago;  and  Rev.  Father 
Clement,  a  member  of  the  Jesuit  order.  The  latter 
never  took  up  his  residence  m  the  United  States, 
and  is  now  a  missonary  stationed  in  Brazil, 
South  America. 

On  coming  to  this  country,  Bernard  Faller  lo- 
cated in  St.  Marie,  a  French  and  German  Catholic 
settlement  in  Jasper  Count3',  where  he  resided 


three  years.  He  then  removed  to  Vincennes, Ind., 
where  he  spent  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Evans- 
ville,  of  the  same  State.  _Six  months  later  he  re- 
turned to  St.  Marie,  hut  after  a  brief  period  re- 
moved to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  milling 
and  merchandising.  The  great  World's  Fair  City 
was  then  but  a  small  straggling  town  of  a  few 
thousand  people,  noted  more  for  its  streets  of 
seemingly  bottomless  mud,  wherein  the  old  Prink 
<fe  Walker  stages  and  the  prairie-schooner  wagons 
from  Indiana  and  southern  Illinois  were  mired 
daily,  than  for  anything  else.  There  were  no  rail- 
roads running  into  Chicago  then.  Steamboats 
from  the  Lower  Lakes  and  the  stages  constituted 
the  only  means  of  conveyance.  In  1849,  when 
the  famous  gold  discoveries  in  California  created 
such  excitement,  Mr.  Faller's  adventurous  spirit 
prompted  him  to  join  a  party  of  gold-seekers  and 
start  across  the  plains  for  the  Pacific  Coast.  Their 
wagons  were  drawn  by  cattle,  but  Mr.  Faller  had 
a  horse,  which  he  rode  a  part  of  the  way.  They 
were  several  months  making  the  trip  and  met  with 
some  hostile  Indians,  but  were  not  attacked  in 
force. 

On  reaching  the  gold  fields,  our  subject  engaged 
in  placer-mining,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days, 
and  was  very  successful.  To  amuse  himself  he 
planted  a  little  garden  near  his  cabin,  probably 
not  exceeding  a  square  rod  in  extent,  which  he 
watered  from  the  river  on  which  he  was  mining. 
In  this  garden  he  raised  a  fine  lot  of  vegetables, 
and  selling  those  not  needed  for  himself,  made  a 
good  profit.  He  sold  everything,  including  pota- 
toes, melons,  etc.,  at  $1  per  pound,  and  one  melon 
weighing  eight  pounds  brought  him  $8  in  gold 
dust.  He  continued  in  California  four  years,  and 
then,  having  accumulated  quite  a  fortune,  returned 
to  the  States  by  way  of  the  ocean  and  Isthmus 
route.  He  landed  at  New  Orleans,  where  he  con- 
verted his  gold  dust  into  coin'ed  gold,  which  he 
brought  home  with  him. 

At  St.  Marie  Mr.  Faller  made  the  acquaintance 
of  a  beautiful  young  girl  of  fifteen,  Miss  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  James  and  Margaret  (Mallet) 
Theriac,  who  captivated  the  miner's  heart,  and  to 
whom  he  was  married  at  Yincennes,  Ind.,  on  the 
13th  of  April,  1853.  She  was  born  in  Vincennes 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


October  22,  1838.  Her  parents  were  also  natives 
of  that  city  and  were  of  French  descent,  her  grand- 
parents having  been  natives  of  Paris,  France,  and 
pioneer  settlers  of  Vincennes.  Soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, Mr.  Faller  settled  in  Newton,  and  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  for  a  short  time.  He  then 
removed  his  girl  wife  to  a  farm  in  the  woods, 
three  and  a-half  miles  west  of  Newton,  in  Wade 
Township.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Faller 
was  just  from  school.  Her  mother  had  kept  her 
close  at  her  studies  and  had  probably  deferred  her 
training  in  the  line  of  practical  housekeeping  un- 
til she  should  have  finished  her  education.  The 
consequence  was,  she  found  herself  at  the  head  of 
a  home  almost  entirely  ignorant  of  household 
duties.  Right  here  the  practical  knowledge  of  her 
bachelor  husband  in  the  way  of  cooking  and  house- 
keeping, acquired  in  his  California  experience, 
came  into  good  play.  He  taught  his  wife  to  make 
bread,  the  first  essential,  and  to  cook  meats  and 
vegetables.  She  proved  an  apt  scholar,  and  her 
womanly  instincts  soon  led  her  to  improve  on  her 
husband's  methods,  until  in  a  short  time  she  be- 
came the  good  cook  and  housewife  which  she  is 
now  so  well  known  to  be. 

After  eleven  years  spent  on  the  farm,  Mr.  Faller 
returned  with  his  family  to  Newton  and  built  a 
steam  gristmill.  He  had  previously  bought  the 
watermills  in  Newton,  both  grist  and  sawmills  in 
one  building,  which  he  had  leased.  He  continued 
to  operate  the  steam  mill  for  ten  years  and  then 
operated  the  watermills,  which  he  had  improved. 
On  the  17th  of  February,  1887,  these  mills  were 
destroyed  by  fire,  and,  the  insurance  having  expired 
without  renewal  a  few  days  previous,  the  fire 
caused  a  total  loss  of  the  property.  Immediately 
after  the  fire,  Mr.  Faller  formed  a  partnership 
with  Joseph  Boos,  and  the  company  erected  the 
present  large  and  well-appointed  mills  known  as 
the  Newton  Water  Mills,  of  which  Boos  ife  Faller 
are  proprietors.  The  structure  is  of  brick  and  is 
furnished  with  the  latest  and  most  improved  ma- 
chinery for  manufacturing  flour  by  the  roller  pro- 
cess, having  a  daily  capacity  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  barrels.  About  the  lime  of  the  rebuilding 
of  the  mill,  Mr.  Faller  erected  three  brick  business 
houses  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square  near 


the  southeast  corner,  which  together  are  known  as 
the  Faller  Block,  and  which  are  still  owned  by  the 
family. 

On  returning  to  Newton,  Mr.  Faller  made  his 
home  on  La  Fayette  Street  until  1879,  when,  on 
the  10th  of  March  of  that  year,  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  family,  the  house  with  its  contents 
was  consumed  by  fire.  In  this  case  also  the  in- 
surance had  expired  a  few  days  previous  to  the 
fire  and  had  not  been  renewed.  The  house  was 
well  furnished,  and  contained  besides  many  val- 
uable relics  and  heirlooms.  The  building  and  its 
contents,  including  the  clothing  of  the  family, 
proved  a  total  loss.  For  the  succeeding  five  years 
the  family  resided  in  a  frame  house  on  the  site  of 
the  present  business  buildings,  after  which  our 
subject  erected  the  present  brick  residence  near 
the  old  mill. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faller  were  blessed  with  a  large 
family,  numbering  fourteen  children.  Anthony 
Bernard,  the  eldest,  born  on  the  13th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1854,  a  successful  and  popular  physician 
of  Newton,  married  Cornelia  Edson,  and  died  July 
22,  1883;  James  Edward,  born  August  13,  1855, 
resides  in  Newton;  Francis  Xavier,  born  January 
8,  1857,  died  on  the  12th  of  February  following; 
Henry  Ambrose,  born  March  1,  1858,  married  Nel- 
lie Lewis,  and  is  a  carpenter  of  Newton  and  a  cap- 
tain of  militia;  Thomas  Flaget,  bom  May  8,  1860, 
wedded  Sallie  Glynn,  and  is  engaged  in  milling  in 
Newton;  Florent,  born  February  8,  1862.  married 
Tillie  Schackman,  and  is  a  miller  of  Newton; 
Louis,  torn  February  6,  1864,  is  also  a  miller  of 
Newton;  Francis  Valentine,  born  February  6,  1867, 
is  employed  with  an  uncle  in  Chicago;  Josephine 
Frances  is  at  home;  Helena  Caroline  is  attending 
St.  Mary's  Institute,  nearTerre  Haute,  Ind.;  Charles 
Albert  Noel,  born  December  18,  1872,  Bernard 
Hubert,  March  27,  1875, and  Mary  Estellaand  Her- 
beth  Augustine,  March  16,  1881,  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Faller  was  actively  engaged  in  business  up 
to  his  last  illness,  in  the  spring  of  1889.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  18th  of  March,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years,  seven  months  and  six  days.  He  was 
buried  in  the  Catholic  Cemetery  at  Newton,  where 
a  fine  marble  statue  of  the  Angel  Gabriel  marks 
his  last  resting-place.  The  monument,  which  is  an 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


elegant  .and  costly  one,  was  made  in  Paris,  France, 
and  presented  to  Mrs.  Faller  by  her  sister,  Miss 
Josephina  Theriac.  Mr.  Faller  was  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  held  various  local  offices.  While  in 
Wade  Township  he  served  as  Assessor  one  term, 
while  in  Newton  was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  for 
several  terms  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees and  City  Council  of  this  city.  He  was  also 
foremost  in  the  organization  of  the  People's  Bank, 
the  first  bank  established  nere. 

Mr.  Faller  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  was  enter- 
prising and  energetic,  and  exercised  most  excellent 
judgment  in  his  investments  and  the  management 
of  his  business  affairs.  He  prospered  and  accumu- 
lated a  large  property,  which  at  his  death  would 
have  been  much  greater  had  it  not  been  for  the 
heavy  loss  he  sustained  in  the  burning  of  his  mill 
and  residence.  He  was  socially  disposed  and  very 
hospitable,  was  very  domestic  in  his  habits  and 
devoted  to  his  wife  and  children.  His  integrity 
was  beyond  question,  and  in  business  matters  his 
word  was  as  good  as  the  bond  of  other  men.  His 
estimable  wife  survives  him  and  still  resides  with 
her  children  at  the  old  home  in  Newton.  Mr. 
Faller  was  an  earnest  Catholic  and  was  liberal  in 
the  support  of  his  church.  His  wife  was  reared  in 
the  same  faith  and  has  brought  up  her  children  in 
that  way.  Hers  is  one  of  the  influential  Catholic 
families  of  the  county  and  one  highly  respected 
in  the  community  where  they  reside. 


^  ON.  WILLIAM  G.  WILLIAMS,  D.  S.,who 

is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  dental  surgery 
in  Newton,  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Coshocton  County,  on  the  16th  of  November, 
1840.  lie  is  a  son  of  William  G.  and  Margaret 
(Knoff)  Williams.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, or,  as  it  is  now,  West  Virginia,  having  been 
born  near  Wheeling  on  the  1st  of  January,  1801. 
He  removed  to  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and  there 
spent  much  of  his  life.  For  twelve  years  he  served 


as  Treasurer  of  that  county,  and  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  citizen,  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  death  occurred  in  March, 
1856.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Sus- 
sex County,  N.  J.,  in  1800,  and  having  survived 
her  husband  for  about  three  years,  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  in  April,  1859. 

William  G.  Williams,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  State,  and  in  the  AVesleyan 
University  of  Ohio.  He  was  a  young  man  of  nine- 
teen years  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  first  lo- 
cated in  Jasper  County,  but  soon  afterward  went 
to  Fayette  County  and  studied  dentistry  in  Van- 
dalia.  He  also  engaged  in  practice  at  that  place, 
and  was  there  married  on  the  30th  of  October, 
1865,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  A. 
Capps,  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Capps,  and  a  native 
of  the  city  in  which  their  wedding  was  celebrated. 
Two  children  have  been  born  of  their  union: 
Claudia  and  Paul. 

It  was  in  1870  that  Mr.  Williams  came  to  New- 
ton, where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  entered  the  store  of  Mr.  Nigh  as 
clerk  and  thus  served  for  about  three  months, 
when  lie  was  appointed  Deputy  Circuit  Clerk  under 
Ogdon  Monell.  In  April,  1874,  he  was  elected  to 
fill  that  office,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  two- 
years  term  was  re-elected,  and  in  1880  was  made 
Circuit  Clerk,  holding  the  position  until  1884. 
Altogether  he  has  served  in  that  office  for  eight 
years.  In  1888,  he  was  nominated  and  elected  as 
Representative  to  the  Thirty-sixth  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and  while  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  served  on  several  important 
committees.  While  in  Vandalia,  he  served  as  Col- 
lector of  his  township. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Williams  is  a  member 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  In  the 
spring  of  1891,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  he  had  suspended  while  in  pub- 
lic office,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
dentistry.  Mr.  Williams  proved  himself  a  capable 
and  efficient  officer  in  every  position  he  was  called 
upon  to  fill.  His  long-continued  service  in  the 
office  of  Circuit  Clerk  is  a  high  testimonial  to  his 
fidelity  and  faithful  performance  of  duty.  His 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


517 


public  and  private  life  are  alike  above  reproach. 
He  has  always  labored  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  in  which  he  resides,  and  is  a  valued 
and  worthy  citizen. 


F/ILLIAM  FREDERICK  BECK,  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  Olney,  was  born  in  Eb- 
ingen,  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  July  31, 
1848,  and  is  the  only  son  of  George  and  Barbara 
(Streich)  Beck.  The  parents  left  the  Fatherland 
and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  when  our 
subject  was  a  lad  of  four  years.  The  father  was  a 
shoe-maker  by  trade.  He  located  first  in  Circle- 
ville,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  three  years,  and  then 
came  with  his  family  to  Olney  in  1855.  Here  he 
followed  his  trade  for  some  time.  His  death 
occurred  in  1869.  His  wife  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  sixty-seven  years,  and  makes  her  home  in 
Brazil,  Ind. 

Since  his  seventh  year,  Mr.  Beck  of  this  sketch 
has  made  his  home  in  Olney.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  acquir- 
ing a  good  practical  education.  Later  he  embarked 
in  the  grocery  business,  which  he  carried  on  for 
six  years.  He  then  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
that  line  and  opened  a  clothing  store  in  connec- 
tion with  N.  Kline.  They  did  business  together 
under  the  firm  name  of  Kline  &  Beck  for  seven 
years,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  peiiod  our 
subject  bought  out  his  partner's  interest  and  car- 
ried on  the  business  alone  for  three  j'ears.  It  was 
on  the  Uth  of  April,  1882,  that  he  bought  the 
Olney  Times,  of  which  he  is  still  editor  and  pro- 
prietor. This  is  a  bright,  newsy  sheet,  ably  edited, 
and  the  liberal  patronage  which  it  receives  is  cer- 
tainly well  merited.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic Press  Association  of  Southern  Illinois,  also 
of  the  Southern  Illinois  Press  Association,  of 
which  he  is  Vice-President,  and  was  elected  a  dele- 
gate of  said  body  to  the  National  Press  Associa- 
tion of  America  that  met  in  Chicago  May  16  to  27, 


1893.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Press  Associa- 
tion, and  is  President  of  the  Olney  Press  Club,  of 
Olney. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Beck  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Amelia  Bechman.  Unto  them  were  born  eight 
children,  but  a  son  died  in  infancy,  and  a  daughter, 
Minnie,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  Those 
yet  living  are  Clarence  V.,  who  assists  his  father  in 
editing  the  paper;  Lora  E.,  Harry,  Elma,  Rub}' 
and  Bessie. 

Mr.  Beck  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  his  estimable  wife  holds  membership  in  the 
Evangelical  Church.  He  is  a  public-spirited  and 
progressive  citizen  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
and  influential  men  of  the  community.  For  about 
twenty-five  years  he  has  served  as  Secretary  of  the 
County  Agricultural  Society.  In  politics  he  is  a 
leading  Democrat.  In  1870  he  was  elected  Town 
Clerk,  in  which  position  he  served  ten  3'eurs.  In 
1879  he  was  elected  County  Commissioner  and 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Board.  That  same 
year,  and  again  in  1885,  he  was  appointed  Mas- 
ter in  Chancery.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
County  Central  Committee  for  twenty  years,  and 
Secretary  nearly  the  entire  length  of  time.  He 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Congressional  Central 
Committee  of  the  Sixteenth  District  in  1884  and  is 
serving  in  that  capacity  at  present.  He  has  at- 
tended every  Democratic  State  Convention  for  the 
past  twenty  years,  either  as  a  delegate  or  alternate. 
In  1884,  he  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  Na- 
tional Democratic  Convention,  and  in  1888 
served  as  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic 
Convention.  In  1892  he  was  elected  State  Cen- 
tral Committeeman  for  the  Sixteenth  District. 
On  June  19  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Ol- 
ney by  President  Cleveland,  and  took  charge  on 
July  1. 

Mr.  Beck  is  greatly  interested  in  civic  societies 
and  holds  membership  with  the  following:  Olney 
Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.;  Richland  Chap- 
ter No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  Olney  Council  No.  55,  R.  & 
S.  M.;  Gorin  Commandery  No.  14,  K.  T.;  Salaam 
Temple,  A.  A.  O.N.  M.  S.;  and  Olney  Chapter  No. 
100,  O.  E.  S.  Of  all  these  bodies  he  has  been  Pre- 
siding Officer.  He  is  also  connected  with  Van 
Rensselaer  Grand  Lodge  of  Perfection  No.  14"; 


518 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Gourgas  Chapter,  Rose  Croix,  16°;  Chicago  Coun- 
cil, Princes  of  Jerusalem,  18U;  and  Oriental  Con- 
sistory, S.  P.  R.  S.  32",  all  of  Chicago.  He  belongs 
to  St.  Louis  Flock,  Nest  No.  1,  Order  of  Owls  of  St. 
Louis;  is  a  P.  C.  of  Marmion  Lodge  No.  52.  K.  P.; 
Olney  Division  No.  58,  U.  R.  K.  P.;  and  is  P.  M. 
W.  of  Olney  Lodge  No.  76,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  which 
order  he  was  elected  Grand  Master  of  the  State  in 
1884.  He  is  likewise  a  member  of  Olney  Legion 
No.  18,  S.  K.  A.,  and  was  Grand  Commander  of 
the  order  two  years.  He  is  a  member  andPast  Con- 
sul of  Olney  Camp  No.  383,  M.  W.  A.,  and  was  a 
State  delegate  to  the  Head  Camp  in  Omaha,  Neb., 
in  1892.  With  Winnebago  Tribe  No.  31, 1.  O.  R. 
M.,  he  also  holds  membership. 

Mr.  Beck  is  a  genial,  pleasant  gentleman,  very 
popular  among  all  classes  of  people,  and  has  many 
warm  friends  who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  ster- 
ling worth  and  excellencies  of  character.  .  As  will 
be  seen,  he  is  very  prominent  in  social  circles.  In 
his  political  career  he  has  made  many  acquaint- 
ances among  prominent  men  and  is  well  versed 
in  the  interests  and  issues  of  the  day.  He  has 
always  proved  himself  a  faithful  and  competent 
officer  and  is  alike  true  to  every  public  and  pri- 
vate trust. 


\r^B  DMUND  W.  RIDGWAY,  M.  D.,a  physician 
HS)  and  surgeon  of  Olney,  who  for  many  years 
I*' — -^  has  been  prominent  in  the  medical  frater- 
nity of  Richland  County,  was  born  in  Harrisburg, 
Pa.,  September  12,  1812.  His  parents  were  Rich- 
ard and  Sarah  (Cowell)  Ridgway,  the  former  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  father  was  of  English  descent,  and 
the  founders  of  the  family  in  America  came  to 
this  country  with  William  Penn.  There  were  five 
sons  and  five  daughters  in  the  Ridgway  family, 
of  whom  fourare  now  living:  the  Doctor;  William; 
Eleanor,  widow  of  David  Spitler;  and  Sarah,  widow 
of  George  Case.  The  father  of  this  family  spent 
many  years  of  his  life  in  brick-making,  and 


manufactured  the  brick  of  which  the  State  House 
in  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  was  constructed. 

In  1821  he  emigrated  to  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  brick-making  and  farming 
until  1838,  when  he  removed  to  Wabash  County, 
111.,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  his 
sons.  He  held  to  the  religious  belief  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  and  died  in  Wabash  County  in 
1862  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years.  His  wife 
passed  away  ten  years  previous,  when  sixty-two 
years  of  age.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  history  of  the  Ridgway  family  is  indeed  an 
interesting  one.  The  first  to  receive  advance- 
ment was  Stephen  Ridgway,  one  of  the  Stewards 
of  the  City  of  Dexter.  Sir  Thomas  Ridgway,  his 
son,  was  employed  in  Ireland  in  a  military  capa- 
city under  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  planted  the  first 
Protestant  colony  on  the  Emerald  Isle.  He 
was  High  Sheriff  of  Devon  in  1600,  and  received 
Knighthood  at  the  accession  of  King  James  to 
the  throne  of  England.  He  was  elected  one  of 
the  Knights  of  the  Shire  for  the  County  of  Devon 
in  the  first  Parliament  called  by  that  prince,  who 
continued  to  employ  him  in  some  of  the  highest 
places  of  trust  and  command  in  Ireland,  and  had 
him  sworn  in  in  the  Privy  Council.  The  family  in 
this  country  are  no  doubt  heirs  to  a  large  property 
in  England,  the  securing  of  which  has  engaged 
their  attention  for  some  time,  and  their  right  to  the 
same  would  be  established  if  the  record  of  one 
man  could  be  found. 

The  grandfather  of  the  Doctor  was  a  farmer  of 
New  Jersey  and  reared  quite  a  large  family.  He  was 
killed  on  the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  being  run  over  by  a  horse  and  carriage. 
He  married  Jane  Burr,  the  only  sister  of  Aaron 
Burr,  who  was  Vice-President.  The  maternal 
grandfather  was  a  sea-captain,  who  probably  came 
from  Wales  to  this  country.  He  died  in  Bedford 
County,  Pa.,  where  his  family  lived  while  he  was 
on  the  water. 

Dr.  Ridgway  was  a  lad  of  nine  years  when  he 
went  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared.  His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the 
common  subscription  schools,  and  he  later  studied 
in  Mansfield,  Ohio.  When  a  boy,  he  was  bound 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


519 


out  to  learn  the  trade  of  saddle-making,  and  when 
his  time  had  expired  he  began  the  study  of  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  Abraham  Blymyer,  with  whom  lie 
completed  his  course.  In  1844,  he  attended  medi- 
cal lectures  in  Willoughby,  Ohio,  and  in  1846  he 
emigrated  to  Illinois  and  began  practice  in  Rich- 
land  County.  In  1872,  he  received  the  honorary 
degree  of  the  Louisville  Medical  College.  Lo- 
cating in  Olney,  he  continued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  with  excellent  success  until  1885,  when, 
on  account  of  his  advanced  years,  he  retired.  He 
had  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  and  had 
gained  an  eminent  place  in  professional  ranks. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1835,  Dr.  Ridgway  wed- 
ded Miss  Mary  Carruthers,  of  Mansfield,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Dye)  Carruthers, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Six  sons  and  four 
daughters  were  born  unto  them:  Maria, John, 
Richard,  Rebecca,  William,  Sarah,  Edmund,  George, 
Mary  and  Horace.  Richard,  John,  Rebecca  and 
Horace  died  in  early  childhood.  Edmund  and 
Maria  grew  to  mature  years,  were  married  and  had 
families,  but  are  now  deceased.  Maria  married 
Frank  Mcllumphreys  and  both  died,  leaving  a  son, 
John,  who  is  now  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Seattle, 
Wash.  William  has  been  three  times  married. 
He  wedded  Josie  Clarke,  then  Anna  Frost,  and  his 
present  wife  was  Miss  Effie  Brines.  They  live  in 
Mt.  Carmel,  where  he  carries  on  a  drug  store  and 
practices  medicine.  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William 
Bowers,  a  druggist  of  Olney,  and  they  have  two 
living  children:  Catella,  wife  of  Ed  Sebree,  a 
railroad  employe  living  in  Denver;  and  Ernst. 
Edmund  F.,  who  died  August  22,  1878,  married 
Miss  Emma  Goforth,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren: Van  F.  and  Edmund  G.  George,  an  optician 
of  Mansfield,  Ohio,  wedded  Marie  O'Kean,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Lillian,  Donald  and 
George.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  William  A. 
Thompson,  a  practicing  physician  of  Olney,  by 
whom  she  has  three  daughters:  Edna,  Sarah  and 
Helen.  Mrs.  Ridgway,  wife  of  the  Doctor,  died 
May  18,  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  She 
and  her  husband  were  for  many  years  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

The  Doctor  is  now  in  his  eighty-first  year,  but 
retains  the  vigor  and  youthfulness  of  a  man  iu  his 


prime.  He  can  jump  up  and  knock  his  heels  to- 
gether twice  before  touching  the  floor.  He  came 
to  Illinois  to  benefit  his  health,  which  at  that  time 
was  very  poor,  and  since  then  he  has  never  been 
known  to  be  ill.  The  Doctor  is  one  of  the  oldest 
Odd  Fellows  in  the  State,  having  been  initiated  at 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  1836,  and  he  now  belongs  to 
Olney  Lodge  No.  180,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Centennial  Medical  Society  of  Southern 
Illinois,  and  in  politics,  fs  a  Republican.  He 
twice  voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  and  twice 
for  Benjamin  Harrison,  the  illustrious  grandson 
of  the  Tippecanoe  Hero.  The  Republican  party  has 
ever  found  in  him  a  stalwart  supporter.  Besides 
his  own  residence,  Dr.  Ridgway  owns  several 
other  dwellings  in  Olney.  Hardly  any  figure  on 
the  streets  of  this  city  is  more  familiar  than  that  of 
our  subject,  who  for  almost  half  a  century  has 
here  made  his  home.  Prominent  in  professional 
and  social  circles,  he  has  won  the  friendship  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  record  of  his 
life  to  our  readers. 


>HE     EFFINGHAM      MANUFACTURING 

Company  was  incorporated  in  April,  188'J, 
IpP  with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $20,000,  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  furniture.  J.  A. 
Arnold  was  elected  President;  A.  J.  Worman  Sec- 
retary and  Manager,  and  L.  H.  Bissell  Treasurer. 
The  first  Board  of  Directors  was  composed  of  the 
following  gentlemen:  Edward  Austin,  Henry  Ev- 
ersman,  W.  B.  Wright,  M.  Deitrich,  Albert  Graven- 
horst  and  Barney  Mussman.  The  plant  was  built 
that  year  and  business  was  begun  the  following 
May. 

The  factory  buildings  comprise  one  three-story 
brick  structure,  80x40  feet, and  a  wooden  building 
sheeted  with  corrugated  iron,  size  70x50  and  the 
same  height  as  the  first  described.  The  mechan- 
ical department  is  in  the  brick  building,  while  the 
wooden  structure  is  in  use  as  finishing-shops, 


520 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


storerooms  and  office.  The  machinery  in  use  is 
of  the  best  modern  pattern  and  work  of  a  supe- 
rior quality  is  turned  out.  The  annual  output 
amounts  to  about  $50,000,  and  employment  is  fur- 
nished to  about  forty  operatives. 

Some  slight  changes  have  occurred  in  the  Board 
of  Directors  and  list  of  olficers.  At  this  writing, 
J.  A.  Arnold  is  still  the  President  of  the  company, 
and  Christian  Alt  is  the  Secretary,  Treasurer  and 
Manager.  The  Directors  are:  Edward  Austin, 
Joseph  Partridge,  Jr.,  William  B.  Wright,  M. 
Deitrich,  A.  Gravenhorst  and  Calvin  Austin. 
Three  salesmen  are  employed  on  the  road,  and  the 
business  is  rapidly  increasing.  Its  success  lias  been 
assured  from  the  start,  and  while  a  comparatively 
young  enterprise,  its  proprietors  have  good  reason 
to  be  pleased  with  the  result.  It  is  the  important 
industry  of  Ettingbam,  which  is  favorably  situated 
for  manufactures  of  this  class,  on  account  of  com- 
peting railroad  facilities  and  convenient  markets. 
The  factory  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
city,  on  the  line  of  the  Vandalia  Railroad. 


'OHN  E.  BROOM  is  a  prominent  and  well- 
known  citizen  of  Effingham.  He  is  a  con- 
ductor on  the  Vandalia  Railroad  and  is  also 
a  dealer  in  furniture.  He  established  busi- 
ness in  his  present  line  in  March,  1885,  and  occu- 
pies four  floors  of  a  building  24x55  feet.  These 
are  his  present  salesrooms.  He  also  utilizes  two 
floors  in  another  building  near  by,  the  dimensions 
of  which  are  90x25  feet,  and  is  doing  a  prosperous 
and  constantly  increasing  business.  Mr.  Broom 
carries  a  stock  of  furniture  valued  at  $5,000,  and 
has  one  of  the  most  complete  assortments  of  goods 
in  liis  line  to  be  found  in  the  city.  He  earnestly  de- 
sires to  please  his  customers  and  is  well  deserving  of 
a  liberal  patronage  from  the  general  public. 

As  Mr.  Broom  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  this  community,  we  feel  assured  that  a  record  of 
his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  read- 


ers. He  was  born  near  Mason,  in  Kffingham  County. 
July  28,  1853,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev.  William  A. 
and  Nancy  (Bishop)  Broom,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  His  grandfather, 
Judge  John  Broom,  was  one  of  the  very  earliest 
pioneers  of  Eftinghara  County.  He  was  the  second 
son  of  Miles  and  Edith  (Vincent)  Broom.  The 
family  was  originally  from  North  Carolina,  whence 
they  removed  to  Virginia  and  afterward  to  Ten- 
nessee. Miles  Broom  was  a  brave  and  distin- 
guished soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  died 
while  on  his  way  home  after  receiving  his  discharge. 
Judge  John  Broom  wedded  Mary  Allen,  and  in 
1829  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family  and  his 
father-in-law.  They  settled  on  Fulfer  Creek,  in 
Effingham  County,  in  what  is  now  Mason  Town- 
ship. Judge  Broom  was  the  father  of  nine  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  was  William,  the  father 
of  our  subject.  He  was  a  distinguished  man  of 
his  time  and  held  many  official  positions  of  honor 
and  trust. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  his  father's  farm, 
and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
left  home  and  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood.  He  worked  out  until 
October  2,  1872,  when  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  Vandalia  Railroad  as  brakeman.  He  was  thus 
employed  until  the  6th  of  December,  1877,  when 
he  was  made  conductor,  which  position  he  has 
held  continuously  since,  covering  a  period  of  six- 
teen years,  and  making  his  term  of  service  on  the 
Vandalia  Road  twenty-one  3'ears.  In  March,  1885, 
as  previously  stated,  he  embarked  in  the  furniture 
business  in  Effingham,  and  placed  the  details  of 
local  management  in  the  hands  of  his  younger 
brother. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1877,  Mr.  Broom  was 
married  in  Highland,  111.,  to  Miss  Ada  Booth,  a 
daughter  of  John  Booth,  and  a  native  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.  Two  children  grace  their  union,  a  daughter 
and  son:  Bertha  M.  and  John  S. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  Mr.  Broom  is  a  member  of  its  official 
board.  He  is  also  a  Steward  of  the  Effingham 
Church  and  the  District  Steward.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic  party  until 


POKTRA1T  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


523 


1889,  since  which  time  he  has  voted  for  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Hero 
Lodge  No.  991,  K.  of  H.,  of  Etthighani,  and  the 
order  of  Railway  Conductors.  He  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world  by  hard  work  and  enterprise 
and  has  achieved  success.  His  long  continuance 
in  the  responsible  position  which  he  holds  with 
the  Vandalia  Railroad  Company  speaks  well  for 
the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  by  its  man- 
agers. 


jEV.  P.  J.  VIRNICH,  whose  portrait  appears 
upon  another  page,  is  the  very  efficient  pas- 
tor of  St.  Marie's  Church.     His  work  in  St. 
Marie  has   been  highly   satisfactory  to  his 
people  and  to  the  community  in  general. 


EVI  W.  MITCHELL,  who  now  resides  in 
Noble,  is  numbered  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Richland  County,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  since  1856.  lie  has  been  prom- 
inent in  official  life  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  and^inttuential  citizens  of  this  com- 
munity. He  now  serves  as  Police  Magistrate. 

Born  in  Jackson  County,  Ind.,  on  the  25th  of 
November,  1845,  Mr.  Mitchell  is  a  son  of  Abram 
D.  and  Burilla  (Dodds)  Mitchell.  The  paternal 
granfather,  Levi  Mitchell,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He 
was  also  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church.  His 
death  occurred  in  Indiana,  when  past  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  Abram  Mitchell  was  also  a  Virgin- 
ian by  birth.  When  a  young  man  he  went  with 
his  parents  to  Jackson  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years.  He  there  met  and  married 
.Miss  Dodds,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  father,  Andrew 

27 


Dodds,  was  horn  in  North  Carolina  and  at  an  early 
age  emigrated  to  the  Buckeye  State.  He  afterward 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  his  death  occurred 
about  1868. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mitchell  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  in  the  Hoosier  State.  It  was  in  1856 
that  he  brought  his  family  to  Illinois  and  pur- 
chased three  hundred  acres  of  land  two  and  a-half 
miles  east  of  Noble,  known  as  the  old  Jeffers  Farm, 
where  he  lived  eight  years,  in  the  meantime  add- 
ing about  two  hundred  acres  of  land  to  his  pos- 
sessions. In  1863,  he  removed  to  Noble,  where 
he  engaged  in  general  merchandising  until  1868. 
Selling  out  in  that  year,  he  made  a  location  near 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  and  tile.  He  there  died  from  the  effects 
of  a  sunstroke  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 
He  held  several  offices  of  trust  and  honor  in  Noble 
Township,  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many 
years,  and  was  one  of  the  County  Commissioners. 
After  his  death  Mrs.  Mitchell  became  the  wife  of 
James  W.  Nottingham,  and  they  make  their  home 
in  Noble.  In  the  Mitchell  family  were  four  chil- 
dren: Andrew  J.,  Zeporah,  Levi  W.  and  Samuel  D. 
Zeporah  became  the  wife  of  Jesse  Toliver,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1862;  the  other  members  of  the  family  are  still 
living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  and  ac- 
quired a  good  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
his  native  State  and  in  the  High  School  of  Clear 
Spring,  Ind.  Later  he  engaged  in  teaching,  being 
thus  employed  in  Richland  and  Clay  Counties. 
He  was  very  successful  in  that  line  of  work,  which 
lie  continued  for  some  years.  At  length  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  tinsmith  business,  which  he 
carried  on  in  Noble  for  about  five  years.  He  next 
devoted  his  energies  to  his  duties  as  United  States 
Pension  Claim  Agent,  and  for  twenty  years  his 
time  and  attention  have  been  given  to  that  work. 

Mr.  Mitchell  has  been  twice  married.  On  the 
24th  of  November,  1880,  he  wedded  Lydia  Rogers, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Amanda  Rogers,  formerly 
of  Mt.  Carmel,  111.  Their  union  was  blessed  with 
two  children:  Nellie  V.  and  Lulu  M.  The  mother 
died  in  May,  188t,  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist 


524 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Church,  of  which  she  was  a  consistent  member. 
On  the  20th  of  October,  1886,  Mr.  Mitchell  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  witli  Mary  J., 
daughter  of  Barnett  and  Abigail  (Gordon)  Jenk- 
ins, of  Clay  County.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Cliurch. 

Frequently  has  Mr.  Mitchell  been  called  to 
serve  in  public  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He 
was  for  eight  3rears  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  is 
now  Police  Magistrate,  which  office  he  has  held  for 
eight  years.  He  was  four' times  Tax  Collector, 
served  four  terms  as  Village  Treasurer,  and  was 
Village  Clerk  for  twelve  years.  Since  attaining 
his  majority  he  has  always  held  some  public  office, 
and  his  prompt  and  faithful  discharge  of  duty 
has  led  to  his  frequent  re-elections.  His  straight- 
forward course  has  won  him  the  commendation  of 
all  concerned,  and  in  the  community  where  he 
makes  his  home  he  is  esteemed  as  one  of  its  best 
citizens) 


OHN  N.  GROVES,  M.  D.,  President  and 
physician  and  surgeon  of  the  Groves  Dip- 
somania Sanitarium,  of  Tuscola,  111.,  and  the 
discoverer  of  Groves'  Dipsomania  Cure,  a 
most  successful  treatment  for  alcoholism,  was  born 
in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  February  21,  1841,  and  is 
a  son  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Hook)  Groves.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  and  are  now 
deceased.  In  1854,  he  accompanied  them  from  the 
Buckeye  State  to  Illinois,  and  the  family  settled 
in  Crawford  County.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  be- 
came a  student  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University, 
at  Delaware,  where  he  pursued  a  three-years  course 
of  study.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  at  Hardinsville  in  1858,  under 
Dr.  S.  M.  Meeker,  of  that  place.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
he  entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  in  which 
he  spent  a  winter  and  summer  term.  In  July, 
1861,  he  began  practicing  in  Watson,  Eflingham 
County,  where  he  continued  to  follow  his  profes- 
sion until  the  1st  of  August,  1882. 


On  that  date,  Dr.  Groves  enlisted  for  the  late 
Civil  War  as  a  private  of  Company  F,  Ninety- 
eighth  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry,  under  Capt. 
Albert  Le  Crone.  He  was  at  once  made  hospital 
steward,  and  in  March,  1863,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of  his  regiment, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  detailed  as  surgeon  to  accompany 
the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry  in  quest  of  Jeff 
Davis,  and  was  present  at  the  capture  of  the  Con- 
federacy's president.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  in  July,  1865. 

Immediately  returning  to  Illinois,  Dr.  Groves 
located  in  Eflingham,  where  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  John  Le  Crone  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Soon  afterwards  he  entered  Rush 
Medical  College,  of  Chicago,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  January  24,  1866.  He  then  at 
once  resumed  practice  in  Effingham  and  continued 
in  partnership  with  Dr.  Le  Crone  until  1868,  when 
the  connection  was  discontinued,  and  he  removed 
to  Freemanton,  now  Dexter,  111.,  where  he  was  in 
active  practice  until  the  year  1870.  In  that  year 
he  removed  to  Altamout,  Effingham  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  practice  until  1879,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Effingham,  and  soon  built  up  here  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  On  the  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, 1893,  he  retired  from  general  practice  to  ac- 
cept the  position  of  superintending  physician  and 
surgeon  of  the  sanitarium  in  Tuscola,  111.,  that 
bears  his  name.  This  institution,  although  com- 
paratively young,  is  rapidly  growing  in  import- 
ance and  prominence,  and  bids  fair  to  become  at 
no  distant  day  the  leading  institution  of  its  char- 
acter in  the  country. 

Dr.  Groves  has  been  thrice  married.  In  Wat- 
son, 111.,  in  January,  1862,  he  wedded  Miss  Regina 
V.  Cline,  who  died  May  5,  1863,  leaving  one  child, 
a  daughter,  Regina  V.,  now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Zim- 
mermann,  a  well-known  attorney  of  Altamont.  In 
March,  1865,  the  doctor  wedded  Miss  Anna  K. 
Kellim,  who  died  September  24,  1891,  leaving  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  namely:  John  N.,  George  and 
Gussie.  On  the  16th  of  June,  1892,  Dr.  Groves 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Effingham  with  Miss 
Annie  Sliger,  his  present  wife. 

The  father 'of  our  subject  was   a  soldier  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


525 


late  war,  and  a  Sergeant  of  the  Sixty-fourth  Regi- 
ment Illinois  Infantry.  His  death  occurred  in 
1864,  while  in  the  service.  The  mother  survived 
her  husband  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight 
3rears. 

Dr.  Groves  is  Surgeon-in-Chief  of  the  Spring- 
field, Kllingham  &  Southeastern  Railroad.  He  is 
also  local  surgeon  of  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road, and  has  served  as  physician  and  surgeon  of 
Mercy  Hospital  in  Efh'ngliam.  In  his  social  rela- 
tions he  is  a  member  of  Altamont  Lodge  No.  533, 
A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.  Dr.  Groves  has  now  been  in  the 
constant  and  successful  practice  of  his  profession 
for  thirty  two  years,  and  has  won  a  flattering  rep- 
utation. His  army  service  gave  him  valuable  ex- 
perience in  surgery  in  early  life,  which  has  been 
added  to  by  an  extensive  practice.  His  natural 
ability  and  thorough  study,  supported  by  long 
experience,  have  placed  him  in  the  foremost  rank 
of  successful  men  of  his  profession  in  southern 
Illinois. 


HE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  of  Efflngham  is 

comparatively  a  new  organization  in  this 
city.  The  society  was  formed  in  the  spring 
of  1890,  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Y.  Kellar,  pastor,  who 
held  services  at  what  is  now  known  as  the  Temple. 
This  congregation  has  recently  erected  a  house  of 
worship  where  its  members  can  meet  each  Sunday, 
the  building  being  located  on  Fourth  Street,  two 
blocks  north  of  Jefferson.  It  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  $3,000  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  The  membership  is  about  fifty, 
and  the  church  is  at  this  writing  without  a  pastor. 
Ellsworth  Schoiley  is  Clerk  of  the  church;  Wil- 
lie Gordon,  E.  Schorley  and  Mrs.  Ruth  A.  Kellar 
are  Deacons,  while  the  Board  of  Trustees  is  com- 
posed of  the  following-named  gentlemen:  E.  C. 
Mitchell,  Cyrus  Stoddard,  Willie  Gordon,  Charles 
Johnson  and  E.  D.  Schorley.  The  society  is  quite 
young  and  as  yet  not  very  strong,  but  its  members 
are  energetic  and  earnest  Christians  and  have 


accomplished  much  in  the  short  time  they  have 
been  organized.  They  are  now  doing  a  good 
work,  and  the  faithful  band  deserves  a  prosperous 
career. 


[JOHN  MARSHALL  WILSON,  deceased,  was 
for  many  years  one  of  Olney's  most  promi- 
nent citizens,  and  this  record  would  be  in- 
complete  without  a  sketch  of  his  life.  Bofn 
in  Prince  William  County,Va.,  March  13,  1811,  he 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (King)  Wilson. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the 
mother,  who  was  a  distant  relative  of  Gen.  Carney, 
was  born  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Their  family 
numbered  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  but  only  two  are  now  living:  Mrs.  Ade- 
line Mars,  and  Mrs.  William  Shelby.  Although  born 
in  the  Keystone  State,  the  father  of  our  subject 
was  reared  in  Virginia.  In  1830,  he  went  to  White 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  large  farm, 
operating  it  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred 
in  1851,  when  past  the  age  of  three-score  years 
and  ten.  He  was  a  Scotch  Presbyterian.  His 
father  had  come  to  this  country  from  Scotland, 
but  his  mother  was  a  Holland-Dutch  lady.  Chief 
Justice  Wilson,  of  Illinois,  was  a  member  of  the 
family  and  a  cousin  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Wilson,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  spent 
his  boyhood  days  upon  a  farm  in  Virginia,  and 
acquired  his  early  education  in  the  old-fashioned 
log  schoolhouse.  He  was  about  eighteen  years  of 
age  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  remained 
on  the  farm  until  about  twenty-four  j'ears  of  age, 
when  he  went  to  Carmi,  and  studied  law  under 
Judge  Wilson,  who  was  then  Circuit  Judge.  In 
1840,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  came  to  Olney  and  began  practice.  He 
was  elected  the  first  Circuit  Clerk  of  Richland 
County,  which  in  1841  was  separated  from  Clay 
and  Lawrence  Counties.  The  first  term  of  court 
was  held  in  the  home  of  Benjamin  Bogart,  and  the 
jury  sat  out  of  doors  under  a  tree,  for  the  house 
contained  only  one  room.  The  next  term  was  held 


526 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


in  a  log  cabin  which  had  been  built  for  a  Meth- 
odist Church  and  was  also  used  for  a  schoolhouse. 
About  forty  years  later  the  present  handsome  court 
house  was  built,  and  Mr."  Wilson  wrote  the  papers 
that  were  putiii  the  corner-stones  of  both  structures 
and  on  both  occasions  delivered  the  dedicatory 
address.  He  was  a  constant  attendant  in  court  at 
Olney  for  fifty  years,  and  his  face  was  more  famil- 
iar to  lawyers  and  judges  than  that  of  any  other 
attendant  thereon. 

Our  subject  was  also  the  first  Mayor  of  Olney, 
and  the  first  brick  sidewalk  of  the  city  was  laid 
during  his  administration.  He  practiced  law  all 
this  time  and  had  considerable  to  do  with  locating 
the  Peoria,  Decatur  &  Evansville  Railroad  here. 
lie  published  a  newspaper  in  Olney  in  1847,  which 
he  bought  from  Mr.  Cox,  and  at  different  times  was 
editor  of  other  papers,  while  to  some  of  the  St. 
Louis  and  other  leading  newspapers  of  the  country 
he  was  a  frequent  contributor. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1842,  Mr.  Wilson  married 
Miss  Harriet  Powers,  daughter  of  Asahel  and 
Sophia  (Lynde)  Powers.  The  Powers  family  was 
originally  from  Ireland,  and  for  generations  back 
the  eldest  son  was  called  Asahel.  The  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Wilson  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  and 
later  became  Major.  By  profession  he  was  a  lawyer, 
but  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  followed  farm- 
ing. The  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Wilson  was 
also  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  Her  father  and 
mother  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  three 
sons  and  five  daughters,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living:  Jane,  wife  of  Nelson  Cobleigh;  Nancy,  wife 
of  Dr.  O.  George;  Mrs.  Harriet  Wilson  and  Frank. 
Asahel  and  George,  the  two  eldest,  Caroline,  the 
fourth  child,  and  Marthaette,  the  seventh  child,  are 
now  deceased.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a 
portrait-painter  and  was  a  cousin  to  the  celebrated 
artist,  Hiram  Powers.  He  painted  his  own  portrait 
from  memory,  by  looking  in  a  mirror  and  then 
turning  away  to  paint.  His  daughter  says  that  the 
likeness  is  a  perfect  one.  Mr.  Powers  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  His  death  occurred  in  1844, 
and  his  wife,  who  survived  him  twenty-eight  years, 
passed  away  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one. 

Eight  children   were  born   unto   Mr.   and   Mrs. 


Wilson,  but  William,  John  M.,  Margaret  and  Fred- 
erick are  now  deceased.  Alice  is  the  widow  of 
William  Ferryman,  who  died  in  1890,  leaving  a 
son,  Frederick,  fourteen  years  of  age;  Philip  mar- 
ried Agnes  Shultz  and  they  have  one  child,  Elmer 
Lawrence.  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Rosso  Titlow. 

In  his  early  manhood,  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  Presby- 
terian, but  a  few  years  before  his  death  he  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  Swedenborgian  Church,  just 
organized  in  Olney,  he  becoming  one  of  its  first 
members.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stanch  Republican 
from  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  was  a  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive  citizen,  manifesting  a 
commendable  interest  in  everything  pertaining  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  A  good  and  kind- 
hearted  man,  he  was  generous  almost  to  a  fault. 
The  part  he  performed  in  the  upbuilding  of  Olney 
will  never  be  forgotten.  He  was  among  its 
founders,  and  his  name  and  memory  should  be 
perpetuated  in  its  history. 


EV.  WILLIAM  A.  BROOM,  deceased,  a 
pioneer  of  Efflngham  County  of  1829,  was 
born  in  Smith  County,  Tenn.,  August  26, 
1829.  He  was  a  son  of  Hon.  John  Broom, 
and  his  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary 
Allen.  His  father  was  born  in  1809,  and  came  to 
Efflngham  County  with  his  family  in  the  fall  of 
1829.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Mason  Town- 
ship, became  quite  prominent  in  public  life,  and 
was  a  distinguished  representative  of  the  pioneer?. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  such 
educational  privileges  as  the  public  schools  of  that 
early  day  in  a  new  country  afforded.  In  1852, 
having  arrived  at  man's  estate,  he  was  married  in 
Freemanton  to  Miss  Nancy  Bishop.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1855,  after  which  he  em- 
barked in  merchandising  at  Freemanton,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  On  the  expiration  of 
that  period  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, and  there  carried  on  agiicultural  pursuits 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


527 


until  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Moundville,  now 
Altamont,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  drug 
business.  Subsequently  he  dealt  in  dry  goods  and 
in  furniture. 

Twelve  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Broom,  of  whom  nine  are  yet  living,  the  other 
three  having  died  in  infancy.  John  E.,  the  eldest, 
whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
work,  married  Miss  Ada  Booth,  and  is  engaged  in 
business  in  Effingham;  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam Harris,  a  resident  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  David 
E.  married  Miss  Alice  Mays,  and  makes  his  home 
in  Etfingham;  Effle  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Logue, 
a  resident  of  Mattoon,  111.;  Jethro  W.  married 
Flora  Sloan,  and  is  living  in  Effingham;  Warren  S., 
Charles  A.  and  Louis  M.  are  unmarried;  Elery  M. 
married  Minnie  Brown,  is  living  in  Ertingham, 
and  is  a  conductor  on  the  Vandalia  Railroad. 

Mr.  Broom  was  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  held 
various  township  offices.  He  served  as  Clerk, 
Auditor  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  After  going 
to  Altamont,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  29th  of 
May,  1882.  He  was  a  local  minister  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  a  faithful  worker  in 
the  cause  of  Christianity.  His  was  a  useful  and 
upright  life  and  he  died  respected  and  esteemed 
by  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances.  His  wife  still 
survives  him.  .She  is  a  native  of  Guernsey  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  came  to  Effingham  County  at  the 
age  of  seventeen.  She  makes  her  home  in  Effing- 
h.im,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


1  OHN  SCHACKMANN,  who  follows  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  section  21,  Wade  Township, 
is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Jasper 
County,  whose  residence  here  covers  a  pe- 
riod of  fifty-two  years.  The  date  of  his  arrival 
in  the  county  is  January,  1840.  Mr.  Schackmann 
lias  therefore  witnessed  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  county  since  the  days  of  its  early  in- 
fancy. He  has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed 


into  beautiful  homes  and  farms,  its  hamlets  grow 
into  thriving  towns,  and  has  watched  the  progress 
of  civilization  and  the  development  that  has  made 
the  county  one  of  the  best  in  southern  Illinois. 
The  pioneer  settlers  were  the  founders  of  the 
county,  and  to  them  is  due  a  debt  of  gratitude  for 
what  they  have  done  in  its  behalf. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  Jan- 
uary 5,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Mary 
(Bower)  Schackmann,  natives  of  France.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  stone-cutter  and  mason  in  the  Old 
Country.  In  1836  he  came  alone  to  America,  and 
for  a  time  worked  at  his  trade  in  different  States. 
At  length  he  located  in  Jasper  County,  111.,  and 
in  1841  sent  for  his  family,  who  joined  him  in 
January  of  the  following  year.  The  father  pur- 
chased forty  acres  of  land  and  opened  up  a  little 
farm,  to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  until 
at  his  death  he  owned  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  highly  improved.  His  first 
wife  passed  away  on  the  22d  of  December,  1857, 
and  after  her  death  he  wedded  Mrs.  Rosa  McDer- 
mott,  by  whom  he  had  two  children:  John  Philip, 
who  resides  in  Missouri;  and  George  Edward,  who 
died  when  two  years  of  age.  Mr.  Schackmann 
died  April  7,  1874,  but  Mrs.  Schackmann  is  still 
living  and  resides  with  her  son  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  Schackmann 's  family  by  his  first  wife  num- 
bered eight  children,  four  of  whom  were  born  in 
the  Old  Country.  John  was  the  eldest,  and  came 
to  America  when  a  lad  of  ten  years.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  Jasper  County,  and  in  his  j'outh 
aided  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  home  farm. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself,  and  as  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey  he  chose  Miss  Rosella  Kinsel,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  Kinsel, 
who  was  of  French  descent.  Their  union  was  cel- 
ebrated in  this  county  January  13,  1852,  and  nine 
children  were  born  unto  them,  the  two  eldest  Ay- 
ing  in  infancy.  Those  living  are:  Frank  J.,  now 
a  merchant  of  Newton;  George  Henry,  who  is  in 
partnership  with  his  brother;  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Joseph  Gender,  a  blacksmith  of  Newton;  Susan 
Philomena,  wife  of  S.  Longle,  of  Newton;  Charles 
S.,  who  follows  farming  in  Wade  Township,  Jas- 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


per  County;  Matilda  C.,  wife  of  F.  Fowler,  also 
of  Newton;  and  Josephine  P.  The  mother  of  this 
family  was  called  to  her  final  rest  November  5, 
188t5,  and  on  the  5tli  of  June,  1888,  Mr.  Schack- 
mann  married  Mrs.  Catherine  Hipp,  a  widow, 
and  a  daughter  of  Ignatius  Moschenross.  By  her 
first  marriage  she  had  three  children:  Joseph  J., 
Frank  X.  and  Mary.  Two  children  have  been 
born  of  the  last  union:  John  Harman  Joseph  and 
Mary  Rosella  Catherine. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Schackmann  operated 
the  home  farm  for  a  year,  and  then  located  upon 
the  land  where  he  now  lives.  He  had  previously 
purchased  eight}'  acres,  upon  which  he  built  a  log 
cabin  with  a  mud  and  stick  chimney.  The  land 
he  plowed  and  planted,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
he  had  it  under  a  fine  state  of  cultivation.  Pros- 
perity rewarded  his  efforts,  and  as  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  from  time  to  time,  until  it  now  comprises 
two  hundred  and  twent}1  acres,  of  which  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  acres  are  all  fenced  and  broken 
and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  also 
has  forty  acres  of  bottom  land,  well  improved  and 
cultivated.  The  log  cabin  has  long  since  been  re- 
placed by  a  comfortable  and  commodious  dwelling, 
and  large  barns  and  other  outbuildings  have  been 
erected,  and  the  Schackmann  homestead  is  to-day 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Wade  Township.  Our 
subject  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  his  suc- 
cess, as  he  started  in  life  a  poor  man,  dependent 
entirely  upon  his  own  exertions.  He  possesses 
good  business  ability,  is  energetic  and  enterprising, 
and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  he  has  achieved 
signal  success,  becoming  one  of  the  prosperous  ag- 
riculturists of  the  community. 

In  politics,  on  all  questions  of  national  import- 
ance, Mr.  Schackmann  is  a  Democrat,  but  in  local 
elections  he  votes  for  the  man  whom  he  thinks 
best  qualified  for  the  office.  He  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  public  office,  but  was  honored  with  an 
election  to  the  position  of  Town  Supervisor  and 
County  Supervisor.  He  has  also  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  and  as  Highway  Commis- 
sioner, and  in  all  these  offices  his  prompt  and 
faithful  discharge  of  duty  has  won  for  him  high 
commendation.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of 


the  Newton  Catholic  Church,  and  in  the  commu- 
nity in  which  they  live  they  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard. As  an  honored  pioneer  of  the  county  Mr. 
Schackmann  well  deserves  representation  in  this 
volume. 


OTTLIEB  BEAR,  an  engineer  on  the  Van- 
dalia  Line,  was  born  in  Highland,  111.,  on 
the  19th  of  August,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of 
Sebastian  and  Anna  (Mueller)  Bear,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Switzerland,  having  been  born  in 
the  city  of  Basel.  Bidding  good-bye  to  their  old 
home,  they  emigrated  to  America,  crossing  the 
broad  Atlantic  in  1843.  Continuing  their  West- 
ward -journey  after  landing  in  this  country,  they 
made  a  settlement  in  Highland,  III.,  where  they 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  is  well  known  to  many  citizens  of 
Eftingham  County.  The  days  of  his  boyhood 
were  spent  under  the  paternal  roof  and  his  educa- 
tion was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
town.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  carriage-trimmer 
and  harness-maker  in  Greenville,  and  after  he  had 
mastered  the  business  opened  a  shop  at  that  place, 
in  connection  with  his  brother  William.  Together 
they  carried  on  business  for  a  period  of  six  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  time,  Mr.  Bear  of  this 
sketch  came  to  Effingham  and  sought  and  secured 
employment  in  the  Vandalia  Railroad  shops.  It 
was  on  the  1st  of  September,  1871,  that  he  formed 
the  connection  with  this  company  which  has  been 
continued  up  to  the  present  day.  In  August, 
1876,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  engineer, 
which  position  he  still  fills.  On  one  day  he  runs  a 
passenger  train  between  Efflngham  and  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  and  the  succeeding  day  has  charge  of 
a  passenger  train  between  Elfingham  and  St. 
Louis. 

Mr.  Bear  was  married  in  this  city  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1871,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Rosa  Tischhouser,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Cath- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


529 


eriue  Tischhouser,  and  a  native  of  Bond  County, 
111.  Six  children  have  been  born  of  their  union, 
numbering  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: Lizzie,  Charles  A.,  Fred  Louis,  Lena  Ger- 
trude, Irwin  G.  and  Ernest  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bear  are  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
are  highly  respected  people,  who  have  the  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  they  come  in 
contact.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Effing- 
ham  Lodge  No.  149,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Lodge  121, 
Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  Engineers.  He  was 
honored  by  being  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  twenty- 
eighth  annual  convention  of  that  order  in  At- 
lanta, Ga.  Mr.  Bear  owns  a  farm  in  North  Muddy 
Township,  Jasper  Count}',  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  which  he  leases.  In  the  line  of  his 
work  he  has  been  very  successful,  never  having 
had  an  accident  happen  through  his  fault  to  a 
train  drawn  by  him.  He  is  temperate  and  indus- 
trious, and  is  highly  respected  and  esteemed  by 
his  employers  and  fellow  railroad  men.  He  has 
also  won  the  confidence  and  warm  regard  of  all 
with  whom  business  or  social  relations  have 
brought  him  in  contact. 


^ILLIAM  EDWARD  BARRETT,  an  intel- 
ligent and  highly  respected  farmer,  resid- 
ing on  section  24,  North  Muddy  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County,  claims  Indiana  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Rush  Count}7, 
near  the  Soldiers'  and  Orphans'  Home,  at  Knights- 
town,  March  10,  1833,  and  on  both  the  paternal 
and  maternal  sides  is  descended  from  families 
noted  for  longevit}'.  His  grand  father  Barrett  was 
more  than  a  centenarian  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  grandfather,  William  McOmas,  followed  farm- 
ing throughout  his  entire  life  in  Virginia,  and 
there  died  in  1818.  His  wife  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-eight  years.  The  parents  of  our 
subject,  Samuel  and  Clarissa  B.  (McOmas)  Barrett, 
were  both  natives  of  West  Virginia.  The  former 


was  of  Irish  descent,  his  father  having  emigrated 
from  the  Emerald  Isle  about  1750.  He  was  on  his 
way  to  the  West  Indies,  but  was  shipwrecked  and 
became  a  resident  of  the  United  States.  Unto 
Samuel  Barrett  and  his  wife  were  born  seventeen 
children,  eight  sons  and  nine  daughters,  of  whom 
eleven  are  still  living.  With  the  exception  of  one 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  all  grew  to  ma- 
ture years  and  were  married.  The  names  of  the 
children  were:  Armilda,  Cynthia  Ann,  Dicy, 
Charles  Addison,  Valeria,  John  M.,  Harvey  B., 
Caroline,  William  E.,  Lucinda,  Sarah  E.,  Samuel 
D.,  Augustus  E.,  Samantha  A.,  Clarissa,  Joseph  H. 
and  Simpson  K. 

The  father  of  this  family  was  a  farmer  and  also 
was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
for  forty-five  years.  He  served  as  a  volunteer 
soldier  under  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  War  of  1812. 
It  was  in  Cabell  County,  Va.,  that  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself.  There  in  connection  with  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  he  had  charge  of  salt  works  for 
some  years.  At  length,  selling  his  farm,  he  re- 
moved to  Rush  County,  Ind.,  in  1829,  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land.  He 
also  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a  time.  He 
became  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  and  in 
1842  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. He  died  on  his  farm  near  Knightstown,  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years.  His  wife  survived  him 
thirty  years,  passing  away  January  23,  1892,  at  the 
age  of  ninety  years  and  seven  days.  She  was  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  from 
her  fifteenth  year,  and  although  she  lived  to  such 
an  advanced  age  she  could  read  her  Bible  without 
glasses  up  to  the  time  of  her  death.  The  descen- 
dants of  Mr.  Barrett's  parents  numbered  two  hun- 
dred and  six  at  the  time  of  his  mother's  death,  em- 
bracing five  generations.  There  were  seventeen 
children,  sixty-seven  grandchildren,  one  hundred 
and  seventeen  great  grandchildren,  and  fivegreat- 
nreat-grandchildren. 

D  « 

William  E.  Barrett,  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord, remained  on  his  father's  farm  until  after  he 
had  attained  his  majority.  His  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  district  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  began  teaching,  which  profession  he  has 
followed  for  thirty -one  terms.  As  a  helpmate  and 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


companion  on  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Mary 
A.  Wyrick,  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca 
(Ruby)  Wyrick.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  her  mother  of  Virginia.  The 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrett,  which  was  cele- 
brated near  Dayton,  Ohio,  August  12,  1856,  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children.  Roselder  H.,  the 
eldest,  married  Etta  Perine,  of  Newton,  and  fol- 
lows farming  near  Wheeler.  Dora  A.  is  the  wife 
of  John  B.  Smith,  a  farmer  near  Wheeler,  and 
they  have  four  children:  Harry  O.,  Nora  May, 
Nellie  Pearl  and  Goldie  Isabel.  Ida  M.  is  the  wife 
of  Francis  M.  Miller,  who  follows  fanning  near 
Lis,  Jasper  County,  and  by  whom  she  has  three 
children:  Alva  B.,  Lulu  Ethel  and  Stella  May. 
Laura  B.  is  the  wife  of  George  S.  Batman,  County 
Superintendent  of  Schools.  They  reside  in  New- 
ton and  have  three  living  children:  Delbert  E., 
Okal  and  Lora  Belle.  Beula  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years.  Mary  L.  and  Rosa  Emma,  the  young- 
est members  of  the  Barrett  family,  are  still  at 
home. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1857,  Mr.  Barrett 
reached  Jasper  County,  111.,  and  located  in  North 
Muddy  Township,  upon  the  farm  which  has  since 
been  his  home.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  and  began  the  development  of 
a  farm.  The  prairie  around  was  all  covered  with 
wild  grass,  which  grew  higher  than  the  horses' 
heads.  Mr.  Barrett  plowed  and  planted  his  land, 
and  transformed  it  into  one  of  the  finest  farms  of 
the  township.  He  also  extended  its  boundaries 
by  additional  purchases,  until  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return 
for  his  labors.  lie  has  also  given  considerable  at- 
tention to  stock-raising,  and  has  handled  horses, 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  on  a  large  scale.  He  now 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  fine  cattle. 

Mr.  Barrett  has  been  crop  reporter  to  the  State 
Department  for  fifteen  years;  he  also  reports  to  the 
National  Board,  and  has  been  reporter  for  the  Far- 
mers' Revieiv  during  the  entire  existence  of  that 
paper.  He  has  also  been  Secretary  and  President 
of  the  Jasper  County  Fair  Association,  of  which 
he  was  really  the  founder.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  Republican  principles,  and  has 
continuously  supported  that  party  since  he  cast 


his  first  Presidential  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont,  its 
first  candidate.  He  lias  never  been  an  office-seek- 
er, yet  was  twice  induced  by  his  fellow-townsmen 
to  accept  the  nomination  for  County  Judge.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
he  has  been  County  President  of  the  Sunday-school 
Association,  which  position  he  held  until  within  a 
year,  when  he  resigned.  Mr.  Barrett  has  led  a  busy 
life  and  as  the  result  of  his  energy  and  enterprise 
has  gained  a  comfortable  competence.  lie  has  also 
led  a  useful  one,  and  his  influence  for  good  has 
been  strongly  marked  in  the  community  where  he 
has  so  long  made  his  home. 


OHN  DAUB,  dealer  in  country  produce, 
wool,  hides  and  furs,  is  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Effingham,  one  of  its  early  set- 
tlers, who  has  long  been  identified  with 
its  interests,  and  well  deserves  representation  in 
this  volume.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  his 
birth  having  occurred  on  the  river  Rhine,  in  Prus- 
sia, between  Coblentzand  Cologne,  on  the  19th  of 
January,  1829.  He  is  a  sou  of  Peter  and  Mar- 
garet (Fronetz)  Daub,  who  were  also  natives  of 
that  part  of  Germany.  The  father  was  born  in 
1789,  and  died  in  his  native  country.  The  mother 
was  born  in  1802.  She  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic 
to  America,  and  her  death  occurred  near  New  York 
City  in  1870.  Their  family  consisted  of  three 
children. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  in 
his  native  land  and  acquired  his  education  in  its 
public  schools.  Soon  after  the  death  of  his  father 
he  emigrated  with  his  mother  to  the  United  States, 
landing  in  New  York  City,  on  the  7th  of  May, 
1852.  He  was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources, 
and  for  the  first  five  years  he  traveled  and  worked 
in  various  States.  In  1857  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  for  a  time  stopped  at  Waterloo.  From  there 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


531 


he  went  into  the  Southern  States,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  in 
1861,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois.  lie  then  en- 
gaged in  traveling  for  several  years,  or  until 
1868,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Effingham, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  The  following 
year  he  embarked  in  his  present  line  of  business, 
and  since  that  time  has  dealt  in  country  produce, 
wool,  hides  and  furs.  In  his  undertakings  he  has 
met  with  good  success. 

On  the  loth  of  April,  1869,  Mr.  Daub  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Etflngham  with  Miss  Agatha  Busse- 
meyer.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  (Meckman)  Bussemeyer,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Germany.  Her  father  was  born  in 
1797,  and  died  in  his  native  land  in  1861,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-four  years.  Her  mother  was  born  in 
1800,  and  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1887. 
Mrs.  Daub  claims  Prussia  as  the  land  of  her  birth, 
she  being  a  native  of  Westphalia.  It  was  in  1867 
that  she  left  her  old  home  and  emigrated  to 
America.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  the 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  a  son  and 
daughter:  Herman,  born  in  August,  1876;  and 
Margaret  K.,  born  November  24,  1878. 

Mr.  Daub  and  his  family  are  members  of  St. 
Anthony's  Catholic  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  For  the  long 
period  of  twenty-four  years,  he  has  been  promin- 
ently identified  with  the  business  and  public  in- 
terests of  Eflingham,  where  his  upright  and  hon- 
orable course  commands  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


\i  AMES  L.  SHIELDS,  who  resides  on  section 
13,  Noble  Township,  is  numbered  among  the 
honored  pioneersof  Rich  laud  County,  where 
formore  than  half  a  century  he  has  made  his 
home.  Fifty-four  years  have  passed  since  he  loca- 
ted here,  during  which  time  he  has  aided  materi- 
ally in  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  the  county, 


and  watched  with  interest  its  progress  and  devel- 
opment. It  is  the  early  settlers  who  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  county,  and  to  them  is  due  a 
debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  repaid. 

Mr.  Shields  was  born  in  what  is  now  Carroll 
County,  Ky.,  August  28,  1824,  and  is  of  Irish  de- 
scent, his  father,  George  Shields,  having  emigrated 
from  the  Emerald  Isle  to  America  when  a  boy.  In 
Kentucky  he  married  Naney  Coghill,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  hatter 
by  trade,  and  always  followed  that  pursuit.  With 
the  Catholic  Church  he  held  membership.  The 
children  of  the  family  were  all  born  in  Kentucky, 
where  the  eldest,  Lodosky,  died;  Mary  J.  died  in 
this  county;  John  was  drowned  after  coming  to 
Richland  County;  George  departed  this  life  in 
Kentucky;  and  James  is  the  only  one  now  living, 
for  William  J.,  the  youngest,  also  died  after  com- 
ing to  Illinois. 

In  1839,  the  family  started  for  this  State,  mak- 
ing the  journey  by  team.  The  mother  and  her 
children  settled  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the 
home  of  our  subject,  entering  forty  acres  of  land 
from  the  Government  in  1837.  In  the  edge  of  the 
timber  a  log  cabin  was  erected,  four  acres  of  land 
were  cleared  and  a  crop  was  planted.  The  mother 
died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  James 
remained  on  the  home  farm  and  aided  in  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  developing  the  wild  prairie.  His  edu- 
cational privileges  were*  very  limited,  he  having 
attended  school  for  about  six  months  in  Kentucky 
and  ten  months  in  this  State.  Reading,  experience 
and  observation,  however,  have  made  him  a  well- 
informed  man.  There  were  no  near  neighbors  to 
the  Shields  family,  and  the  work  of  developing  the 
county  seemed  hardly  begun.  Mr.  Shields  has 
always  borne  his  part  in  that  achievement,  and  the 
community  recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen. 
His  labors  in  his  own  interest  have  been  in  the  line 
of  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  he  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  of  good  land. 

Mr.  Shields  was  married  March  12,  1846,  in  Rich- 
land  County,  to  Miss  Hester  Ann  Herring, a  native 
of  Daviess  County,  Ky.,  and  a  daughter  of  Hender- 
son Herring,  who  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in 
a  very  early  day.  The  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  lias  been  blessed  with  the  following  children: 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lodosky,  wife  of  Aaron  Casad,of  Noble  Township; 
John,  who  is  editor  of  a  paper  in  Oberlin,  Kan.; 
Lucretia,  a  widow  living  at  home;  Delia,  wife 
of  Henry  Franklin  Steffy,  of  Noble  Township; 
George,  a  carpenter  of  Vincennes,  Ind.;  Stephen 
L.,  a  progressive  farmer  of  Richland  County;  and 
Livona,  wife  of  Albert  Alvord,  of  Noble  Township. 
The  children  were  all  born  and  reared  in  this 
county, and  received  good  educational  advantages, 
fitting  them  for  the  practical  and  responsible  duties 
of  life. 

Mr.  Shields  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lewis  Cass  iu  1848,  and 
has  since  been  a  Democrat.  He  takes  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  and  is  an  influential 
member  of  the  party  in  this  community.  He  has 
filled  the  office  of  Assessor,  and  for  eight  years 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  proving  a  faithful 
and  capable  officer.  His  business  career  may  well 
serve  to  encourage  others  who,  like  himself,  have 
to  start  out  in  the  world  empty  handed.  Very 
early  in  life  he  learned  toswing  the  cradle,  axe  and 
scythe,  and  he  frequently  worked  for  thirty-seven 
and  a-half  cents  per  day,  but,  deterred  by  no  obsta- 
cles in  his  path,  he  made  his  way  over  the  difficul- 
ties, and  by  his  own  labors  has  worked  his  way 
upward  to  a  position  of  affluence. 


*==«==* 


FFINGHAM  APPLE  ORCHARD  COM- 
PANY was  organized  in  February,  1892, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $15,000.  The  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  were  elected  as  its  officers: 
E.  N.  Rinehart,  President;  Calvin  Austin,  Yice- 
President;  William  Dyke,  Secretary  and  Super- 
intendent: and  Joseph  Partridge,  Jr.,  Treasurer. 
The  corporate  powers  of  the  Effingham  Apple 
Orchard  Company  provide  for  buying  land,  plant- 
ing orchards  and  for  the  growing  of  and  dealing 
in  fruit.  The  company  has  forty  acres  of  land 
adjoining  the  city  limits  of  Eflingham  on  the  north, 
and  this  tract  is  planted  in  apples  and  plum  trees 


and  small  fruits.  They  expect  to  plant  forty  acres 
a  year,  and  may  exceed  that  number  in  favorable 
seasons.  Additional  tracts  of  land  are  being  con- 
tracted for,  and  the  outlook  for  the  business  is 
most  promising.  Its  stock  is  already  quoted  above 
par.  This  section  of  Illinois  possesses  great  natu- 
ral advantages  as  a  frui '-growing  region,  and  pub- 
lic attention  is  being  attracted  to  the  subject  of 
making  fruit  the  great  staple  of  this  part  of  the 
State. 


E  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 
of  Olney  was  organized  in  November^ 
1841,  in  Brother  H.  Barney's  log  cabin,  by 
the  Rev.  William  H.  Reed,  whose  uncle,  the  Rev. 
Jacob  E.  Reed,  was  the  Circuit  preacher  of  the 
Mt.  Carmel  circuit  of  the  Illinois  conference. 
The  constituent  members  were  W.  H.  Reed  and 
wife,  Scott  Thrapp  and  wife,  N.  D.  Jay  and  wife, 
Jonas  Notestine,  M.  B.  Snyder,  and  one  proba- 
tioner, George  W.  Butler.  Mr.  Notestine  was  ap- 
pointed leader.  Class  and  prayer  meetings  were 
held  every  other  week  and  preaching  every  fourth 
week  in  Brother  Barney's  log  cabin.  The  county, 
having  just  been  organized,  had  no  court  house 
and  the  community  no  schoolhouse. 

In  the  fall  of  1842  the  County  Commissioners 
proposed  to  give  to  the  society  a  lot,  if  they 
would  build  a  church  and  allow  it  to  be  used  for 
a  court  house  and  schoolhouse.  The  proposition 
was  accepted,  and  by  subscriptions  in  labor  and 
material  the  church  was  built.  It  was  an  unpre- 
tentious log  structure,  but  served  fully  the  treble 
purposes  of  worship,  education  and  county  busi- 
ness. There  many  of  those  who  are  now  leading 
citizens  of  Olney  received  the  rudiments  of  their 
education,  and  there  the  first  Sunday-school  of 
this  section  of  the  county  was  organized.  This 
Sunday-school  was  formed  in  the  summer  of  1844 
by  the  circuit  preacher,  the  Rev.  William  Royal, 
assisted  by  Jonas  Notestine  and  others,  not  as  a 
Methodist,  but  as  a  union  Sunday-school.  Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


533 


Notestine  was  the  first  Superintendent.  The 
school  prospered  for  a  while,  but  subsequently  was 
not  so  well  attended  and  was  opened  irregularly. 
In  the  summer  of  1851  it  was  re-organized  with 
C.  M.  Hoover  as  Superintendent.  In  1852,  the 
old  church  having  become  dilapidated,  a  move- 
ment was  made  to  build  a  new  one.  Pending 
that  event,  the  church  and  Sunday-school  were 
held  in  a  large  two-story  frame  house  on  Main 
Street,  at  which  time  E.  B.  Page  was  elected  Su- 
perintendent. 

In  the  fall  of  1854  the  new  church  was  so  far 
advanced  in  construction  that  meetings  were  held 
in  the  basement,  and  the  Sunday-school  was  re- 
moved to  the  same,  from  which  time  to  the  pres- 
ent the  school  has  had  a  continuous  existence. 
Mr.  Page  continued  as  Superintendent,  and  dur- 
ing his  service  a  new  library,  costing  $2,000,  was 
procured.  On  his  death,  which  occurred  Novem- 
ber 29,  1857,  A.  W.  Mace  was  chosen  his  successor, 
and  in  January,  1858,  the  organization  was  changed 
from  a  union  to  a  Methodist  Sunday-school.  In 
October  following,  Mr.  Mace  refusing  to  serve 
longer  as  Superintendent,  John  H.  Gunn  was 
elected  his  successor.  The  new  Superintendent 
re-organized  the  school,  making  various  changes 
in  its  management,  which  proved  beneficial.  At 
that  time  the  school  had  an  enrollment  of  two 
hundred  and  an  average  attendance  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five.  It  prospered,  increased  its 
numbers,  and  a  new  library  costing  $200  was  pur- 
chased. On  the  24th  of  June,  1860,  Mr.  Gunn  re- 
signed and  G.  D.  Morrison  was  elected  his  suc- 
cessor, but  he  refused  to  accept,  and  Mr.  Gunn 
continued  to  serve. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  in  the  spring 
of  1861,  many  of  the  older  boys  of  the  school  en- 
listed, thirty-six  in  all  going  from  the  school  dur- 
ing the  war,  of  whom  ten  were  either  killed  or  died 
in  the  army.  Notwithstanding  the  loss  by  enlist- 
ment, the  school  continued  to  increase  until,  toward 
the  close  of  the  war,  the  enrollment  reached  four 
hundred,  with  an  average  attendance  of  three 
hundred.  Great  interest  was  manifested  in  mis- 
sionary work,  and  the  school  contributed  largely 
to  that  cause.  It  also  donated  liberally  to  aid  the 
boys  in  the  field  during  the  war.  In  September, 


1865,  in  spite  of  some  opposition  by  the  church, 
an  organ  was  introduced  into  the  school.  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Babitt  was  made  organist,  and  for  many 
years  her  influence  was  a  power  for  good  in  the 
school,  and  more  real  and  genuine  religious  inter- 
est was  manifested  on  the  part  of  the  teachers. 
In  1873  Supt.  Gunn  resigned  and  Brother  William 

E.  Ravenscroft  was  elected  his  successor.     At  the 
end  of  the  year   Mr.  Gunn  was  again  elected  Su- 
perintendent and  served   until  September,   1879, 
when  G.  D.  Slanker  was  chosen  his  successor,  and 
held  the  office  until  1881,  when    he    declined  to 
serve  another   term.     Mr.   Gunn    was   then  once 
more   elected    and    served    until    January,    1885, 
when  Dr.  II.  J.  B.  Wright  was  chosen  his  successor 
and  he,  in  turn,   was  succeeded  by   the    Rev.  D. 

F.  Houser  in    1887,   who   filled   the    office    until 
1889.     In  that  year  G.  D.  Slanker  was  re-elected, 
and  has  continued  in  the  office  up  to  the  present 
time. 

This  Methodist  Sunday-school  from  its  ranks 
has  furnished  to  the  force  of  Christian  pastors 
twenty-eight  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  the  greater 
number  of  whom  are  still  in  active  service  through- 
out the  West.  Liberal  amounts  of  money  have 
been  contributed  by  the  school  for  various  relig- 
ious and  other  worthy  purposes,  and  hundreds 
who  received  their  earl}'  religious  training  within 
the  fold  are  now  heads  of  worthy  Christian  fam- 
ilies, and  each,  in  his  or  her  way,  doing  good 
work  in  the  world. 

The  pastors  of  the  church  in  order  of  service 
are  as  follows:  Jacob  E.  Reed,  John  Fox,  Will- 
iam Royal,  McKendree  Thrapp,  E.  Joy,  Austin 
Rogers,  R.  I.  Nail,  John  Gilham,  John  Adams, 
Cavey  Lambert,  A.  Campbell,  M.  Shepherd,  John 
Shepherd,  J.  T.  Johnson,  J.  W.  Miller,  N.  Hawley, 

A.  B.  Nesbit,  H.  Chapman,  Jeremiah    W.  Phillips, 
N.  Allen,  J.   Glage,   Rev.    Carlisle  Babitt,   J.  T. 
Hough,  T.  F.   Houts,   J.  Earp,  C.  I.   Houts,  John 
Van  Cleve,  J.  W.  Phillips,  J.  W.  Lane,  J.  W.  Locke, 
William  Wallace,  J.  W.  Van  Cleve,  N.  B.  Cooksey, 

B.  R.  Pierce,  Joseph  W.  Van  Cleve  and  C.  Nash, 
the  present  pastor. 

The  church,  which  was  built  in  1854,  is  a 
fine  brick  structure,  capable  of  seating  four  hun- 
dred people,  and  is  still  in  use.  The  society  has 


534 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  prosperous  and  its  pulpit  has  been  ably  filled 
through  all  these  years.  This  denomination  is  the 
most  numerous  of  any  in  the  county,  having 
sixteen  places  of  worship  and  several  appoint- 
ments not  provided  with  church  edifices. 


ORNEL1US  BEEKMAN,  a  retired  farmer 
living  iii  Noble,  was  born  in  Highland 
County,  Ohio,  June  10,  1838,  and  is  a  son 
of  Robert  M.  and  Susanna  (Hoop)  Beekman,  who 
were  also  natives  of  the  Buckeye  State.  They  had 
a  family  of  five  children:  Cornelius,  Lavissa,  Re- 
becca C.,  Charity  and  John,  but  our  subject  is  the 
only  one  now  living.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  business  in  Ohio  for 
many  years.  In  1855  he  became  a  farmer  of 
Decker  Township,  Richland  County,  where  he  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  He  was  a  soldier 
of  the  late  war,  having  served  for  about  six  months 
in  Company  H,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
after  which  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disa- 
bility. His  wife  survived  him  until  1881,  when 
she  too  passed  away.  She  was  then  sixty-seven 
years  of  age.  Both  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Mrs.  Beekman  was  again  mar- 
ried, becoming  the  wife  of  Henry  Yost,  who  is 
still  living  in  German  Township. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
Beekman,  was  also  a  farmer.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years.  The  maternal  grandfather,  John  Hoop,  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. He  served  in  the  Revolution. 

Cornelius  Beekman  has  been  identified  with  the 
life  of  a  farmer  since  his  earliest  remembrance.  As 
soon  as  he  was  old  enough  lie  began  work  in  the 
fields  on  his  father's  farm.  He  was  educated  in 
the  schools  of  Ohio,  and  after  coming  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 
a  few  years.  After  his  marriage  he  began  farm- 
ing for  himself,  and  has  since  continued  to  follow 


that  pursuit  with  the  exception  of  the  three  years 
which  he  spent  in  the  service  of  liis  country  dur- 
ing the  late  war. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  1856,  Mr.  Beekman 
married  Susanna,  a  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Cath- 
erine (Bates)  Klingensmith,  pioneer  settlers  of 
Richland  County.  Six  children  graced  their  un- 
ion, but  Jesse  M.  and  Jeremiah,  the  two  eldest,  are 
now  deceased.  Robert  is  tho  next  younger.  Ida 
B.  is  the  wife  of  Wesley  Milton,  a  machinist  of 
Washington,  Ind.,  by  whom  she  has  one  child, 
Edna.  Maro  is  now  deceased,  and  Orintha  com- 
pletes the  family.  Mrs.  Beekman,  who  was  a  faith- 
ful member  of  the  Christian  Church,  was  called  to 
the  home  beyond  in  1874.  Our  subject  has  since 
married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Nelson,  a  daughter  of  Eli- 
jah Nelson,  who  is  now  the  oldest  resident  of 
Richland  County.  Six  children  were  born  unto 
them,  three  of  whom  are  now  living:  Cyrus,  Merta 
and  John  William.  Herbert,  Leah  and  Isabel, 
the  second,  fourth  and  sixth  children,  are  deceased. 
The  mother  died  August  21,  1890.  She  too  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Beekman 
was  again  married,  March  16,  1893,  when  Mrs. 
Nancy  Boatman,  widow  of  James  Boatman,  became 
his  wife. 

Prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  on  the  8th  of 
August,  1862,  our  subject  joined  Company  H, 
Ninety-eighth  Regiment  of  Illinois,  and  for  three 
years  aided  in  the  defense  of  the  Old  Flag,  partici- 
pating in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Hoover's 
Gap  and  the  Atlanta  campaign.  When  the  war 
was  over  he  returned  to  his  farm.  He  began  farm- 
ing with  only  six  acres,  but  as  his  financial  -  re- 
sources increased,  he  has  added  to  that  until  he 
now  owns  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  of 
good  land.  He  also  recently  sold  forty  acres. 

When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  Mr.  Beekman 
joined  the  United  Brethren  Church,  but  after 
about  four  years  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Christian  Church,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
identified.  His  wife  holds  membership  with  the 
same.  He  belongs  to  Noble  Lodge  No.  482,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  Noble  Post  No.  252,  G.  A.  R.  He  is  at 
present  holding  the  office  of  Collector  of  Noble 
Township.  lie  served  as  Collector  and  Town  Clerk 
of  Decker  Township  for  several  years,  for  eleven 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


535 


years  was  School  Trustee,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  School  Director.  In  the  discharge  of  his 
public  duties  he  has  always  manifested  a  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity  that  have  won  for  him  high  com- 
mendation. He  is  a  friend  to  all  educational  and 
moral  interests,  and  whatever  tends  to  improve  or 
benefit  the  community  is  sure  to  receive  his 
hearty  support  and  co-operation. 


i.  ETKll  D.  PFLAUM,  who  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  acres  of  rich  land  on  section 
28,  Noble  Township,  Richland  County,  was 
born  in  Germany,  July  15,  1852,  and  is  a 
son  of  Valentine  and  Elizabeth  (Hartman)  Pflaum. 
Peter  was  the  only  child  born  to  them  in  the  Old 
Country.  The  father  was  a  German  farmer,  but  in 
1854  he  severed  all  business  connections  in  his  na- 
tive land,  and  with  his  wife  and  little  son  crossed 
the  board  ocean.  Locating  near  Pomeroy,  Meigs 
County,  Ohio,  he  there  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  living  on  one  farm  for  many  years.  In 
1873,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  on  the  farm 
which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject.  Four 
years  ago  he  removed  to  Olney,  where  he  is  still 
living.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  in  political  faith  he  is  a  Re- 
publican. His  life  has  been  a  busy  one  and  pros- 
perous. He  steadily  increased  his  possessions  un- 
til he  owned  about  eight  hundred  acres  of  land, 
which  he  has  since  divided  among  his  children, 
giving  to  each  a  farm. 

The  members  of  the  Pflaum  family  are  Peter,  of 
this  sketch;  John,  who  follows  farming  in  Noble 
Township;  George,  who  also  owns  a  good  farm  in 
Noble  Township;  Valentine,  an  agriculturist  of 
Denver  Township;  Elizabeth,  the  wife  of  John 
Schnepper,  of  Noble  Township;  Adam,  at  home; 
Mary,  the  wife  of  Cass  Bassett,  of  Olney  Town- 
ship; and  Henry,  at  home. 

The  youth  of  our  subject  was  spent  upon  the 
home  farm  in  Ohio.  His  educational  privileges 
were  limited  to  those  afforded  by  the  common 


schools,  for,  being  the  eldest  son,  his  labors  were 
needed  in  the  field.  He  early  learned  to  swing 
the  cradle  and  scythe,  and  use  the  axe,  and  to  his 
father  he  gave  the  benefit  of  his  services  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 

In  Noble  Township,  in  1882,  Mr.  Pflaum  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Schnepper, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  who  with  her  parents  went 
to  Clay  County,  111.,  when  a  child.  They  have  a 
family  of  four  children:  Lillie,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 18,  1883;  Nettie,  May  6,  1885;  Lydia,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1887;  and  Mamie,  February  17,  1890. 
Her  birth  occurred  in  Richland  County,  but  the 
others  were  born  in  Oregon. 

In  1876  Mr.  Pflaum  went  West,  locating  in  Ore- 
gon. He  lived  upon  a  farm,  and  in  connection 
with  farm  work  handled  wood  and  lumber,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaming.  Success  attended  his  efforts, 
and  he  acquired  a  considerable  capital.  In  1881, 
he  returned  to  Illinois,  but  after  his  marriage 
again  went  to  Oregon,  where  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1889.  Since  that  time  he  has  lived  upon 
the  old  homestead,  where  he  owns  two  hundred 
acres  of  rich  land.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
in  the  township,  being  supplied  with  all  modern 
improvements  and  equipments.  Mr.  Pflaum  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Hancock,  and  usually  supports  the 
Democratic  party,  but  is  not  strictly  partisan.  He 
has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  yet  for  three  years 
he  served  as  Road  Supervisor  in  Oregon.  He  pre- 
fers to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  signal 
success. 


HRISTIAN  DON  AT.  who  follows  farming 
on  section  30,  Decker  Township,  Richland 
County,  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State. 
The  place  of  his  birth  is  in  Montgomery  County, 
and  the  date  is  November  21,  1823.  His  grand- 
father also  bore  the  name  of  Christian  Donat.  He 
was  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  and,  coming  to  this 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


country  with  La  Fayette,  he  aided  the  Colonies  in 
their  struggle  for  independence.  His  home  was 
Gen.  Washington's  headquarters  for  some  time, 
and  his  wife- prepared  the  Commander's  meals  all 
one  winter.  After  the  war,  Mr.  Donat  bought 
land  in  Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
the  age  of  ninety  years.  He  reared  a  family  of 
five  sons  and  five  daughters. 

One  of  the  sons,  Christian  Donat,  Sr.,  became  the 
father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  married  Elizabeth  Rittenhouse,  also  a 
native  of  that  State.  Her  father,  Abraham  Ritten- 
house, lived  in  Rittenhausen,  Pa.,  where  a  colony 
of  Hollanders  had  settled.  Four  children  were 
born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Donat.  John,  Anna  and 
Charles  are  all  living  in  Montgomery  County, 
Pa.,  our  subject  having  been  the  only  one  to  emi- 
grate Westward.  The  father  of  the  family  there 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-three.  His  wife,  who  sur- 
vived him  some  years,  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  he  was  a  very  prominent 
farmer. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  lost  his  father  when 
he  was  only  nine  years  of  age.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  for  his  moth- 
er, and  he  operated  it  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  joined  the  citizen  soldiery  preparing  for 
the  Mexican  War."  With  Gen.  Scott's  army  he 
went  from  Vcra  Cruz  to  the  City  of  Mexico.  On 
his  return,  Mr.  Donat  embarked  in  business  in 
Philadelphia  as  a  dealer  in  produce,  and  carried 
on  that  business  from  1849  until  1865.  In  the 
Mexican  War  he  was  breveted  Captain.  In  1862, 
he  began  recruiting  regiments  for  the  late  war,  and 
assisted  in  raising  about  ten  regiments,  but  did 
not  go  to  the  field  himself.  Continuing  in  busi- 
ness in  Philadelphia  until  1865,  he  went  to  West 
Virginia.  The  oil  excitement  was  then  at  its 
height,  and  in  the  oil  regions  of  that  State  he 
bought  considerable  land.  His  speculation,  how- 
ever, proved  a  failure,  he  losing  several  thousand 
dollars. 

While  there,  Mr.  Donat  recovered  his  health, 
which  had  been  greatlj-  impaired,  and  found  an- 
other fortune  in  his  wife.  On  the  24th  of  June, 


1873,  he  wedded  Annie  Hickel,  daughter  of  George 
W.  and  Melvina  (Oldham)  Hickel,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. Four  children  grace  their  union:  Clora, 
Don  Cameron,  Daisy  and  Robert  Brown. 

From  1873  until  1878  Mr.  Douat  lived  in  Vir- 
ginia, spending  his  time  in  the  oil  business.  In 
the  latter  year  he  came  with  his  family  to  Rich- 
land  County,  111.,  and  purchased  a  farm  two  and 
a-half  miles  southwest  of  Noble,  containing  three 
hundred  acres.  This  he  has  greatly  improved. 
He  now  has  an  orchard  of  twenty  acres,  and  the 
once  swampy  region  has  been  transformed  into 
rich  and  fertile  fields.  The  place  is  well  fenced, 
there  are  a  fine  house,  good  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings and  all  the  conveniences  and  accessories 
of  a  model  farm.  In  fact,  it  is  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Decker  Township. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party 
our  subject  has  been  one  of  its  stalwart  advocates. 
Himself  and  wife  and  daughter  Clora  hold  mem- 
bership with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the  community, 
and  widely  and  favorably  known.  The  home  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality  and  the  members  rank  high 
in  social  circles.  Mr.  Donat  deserves  great  credit 
for  his  success  in  life,  which  has  all  been  acquired 
through  his  own  efforts. 


jfOHN  KLINGENSMITH,  a  retired  farmer 
living  in  Noble,  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  of  Richland  County,  his  birth  hav- 
ing here  occurred  October  14,  1841.  His 
parents  were  Jeremiah  and  Catherine  (Bates) 
Klingensmith,  the  former  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  had  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  but  only  two 
are  now  living,  John  and  Maro.  The  latter  lives 
on  a  farm  two  miles  southwest  of  Noble.  The 
father  of  this  family  removed  to  Ohio  in  an  early 
day  and  was  there  married.  In  1840,  he  emi- 
grated to  Clay  County,  111.,  but  after  a  short  time 
entered  forty  acres  of  land  in  Richland  County, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


537 


upon  which  he  lived  forty-seven  years.  In  1887, 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  Noble,  where  he  died 
July  25,  1889,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  wife,  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  passed 
away  in  the  spring  of  1877,  and  he  afterwards 
married  Mrs.  Margaret  Westfall,  widow  of  Ste- 
phen Westfall,  who  still  survives  him.  Mr.  Kling- 
ensmith  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war.  After  serv- 
ing for  three  years  in  the  Fortieth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, he  re-enlisted  as  a  member  of  the  Fifth 
Illinois  Cavalry.  He  participated  in  many  of  the 
most  important  battles,  including  the  engagements 
of  Bull  Run  and  Gettysburg,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  hand  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  The  Kling- 
ensmith  family  was  founded  in  America  by  the 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject.  He  was  a 
native  of  Germany,  who,  having  emigrated  to  this 
country,  lived  for  many  years  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  David  Bates,  was  born 
in  the  Buckeye  State.  In  1840,  he  floated  down 
the  Ohio  River  on  a  flatboat  to  Shawneetown, 
and  followed  farming  in  Illinois  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in  1864,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 

Under  the  parental  roof  our  subject  remained 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  earning 
his  own  livelihood  by  working  as  a  farm  hand  in 
the  neighborhood.  Each  Saturday  night  he  would 
return  home,  spending  Sunday  with  the  family. 
After  attaining  to  man's  estate,  he  was  married,  in 
September,  1861,  to  Miss  Lydia  Stith,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Wood)  Stith,  of  Clay  County. 
Six  children  were  born  unto  them.  Sarah  J.  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  L.  Carlin,  who  is  engaged  in 
painting  and  paper-hanging  in  Edinburg,  111. 
Orintha  is  now  deceased.  Thomas  H.  wedded  Mrs. 
Ida  Norton,  widow  of  Samuel  Norton,  and  resides 
on  a  farm  a  mile  and  a-half  from  Edinburgh.  The 
lady  had  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage, 
Stella  Maud.  Mary  is  still  at  home,  and  Jeremiah 
and  Laura,  the  two  youngest  members  of  the 
family,  are  now  deceased.  For  his  second  wife 
our  subject  chose  Miss  Mary  Alice  Swengo,  daugh- 
ter of  Truman  and  Elizabeth  Swengo. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Klipgensmith  mani- 
fested his  loyalty  to  the  Government  by  joining 
the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  II,  Ninety-eighth 


Illinois  Infantry,  August  8,  1862.  He  served  for 
two  years  and  three  months  and  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Hoover's  Gap  and  took  part  in  the 
Wheeler  raid  and  a  number  of  minor  engagements. 
He  is  now  a  member  of  Noble  Post  No.  292,  G. 
A.  R.,  which  he  joined  on  its  organization.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 
Throughout  his  business  career,  Mr.  Klingen- 
smith  followed  farming,  but  in  November,  1882, 
he  bought  property  in  Noble,  and  removed  to  the 
village.  This,  however,  he  has  since  sold,  and  he  ex- 
pects immediately  to  return  to  his  farm,  which  is 
pleasantly  located  within  a-half  mile  of  Noble. 
He  formerly  owned  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
but  before  his  removal  sold  all  except  forty  acres. 
Of  this,  twenty-five  acres  are  comprised  in  an 
orchard.  Our  subject  has  led  a  busy  and  useful 
life,  and  as  the  result  of  his  well-directed  efforts 
and  good  management  he  has  acquired  a  compe- 
tence, which  now  enables  him  to  live  retired. 


! 


OSEPH  B.  WALKER,  M.  D.,  who  occupies 
the  position  of  Mayor  of  Effingham,  is  a  na- 
tive  of  Pennsylvania,  but  is  of  Irish  descent. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Porters vi lie,  Butler 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  17th  of  September,  1855,  his 
parents  being  Alexander  and  Martha  (Smith) 
Walker.  His  father  was  born  in  County  Tyrone, 
Ireland,  but  in  early  life  he  left  the  Emerald  Isle 
and  emigrated  to  America.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  The  family 
removed  to  Jackson  County,  Ohio,  remaining  about 
six  3'ears,  and  then  removed  to  Crawford  County, 
III.,  in  1868.  Mrs.  Walker  is  still  living  in  that 
locality,  but  the  father  died  in  that  county  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1880. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood 
under  the  parental  roof,  and  acquired  his  literary 
and  scientific  education  in  various  institutions  of 
learning.  Having  determined  to  make  the  practice 
of  medicine  his  life  work,  he  began  studying  to 
that  end,  and  was  graduated  from  the  medical 


538 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


department  of  the  Miami  University  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  in  the  Class  of '82.  Prior  to  completing  his 
final  course  at  the  University,  however,  he  had 
established  practice  in  Crawford  County,  111.,  but 
soon  after  receiving  his  diploma  he  went  to  Effing- 
ham,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  This  was 
in  April,  1882,  and  during  the  eleven  years  which 
have  since  elapsed,  his  business  has  constantly  in- 
creased, and  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice. 

Dr.  Walker  was  married  in  Palestine,  Crawford 
County,  111.,  on  the  30th  of  October,  1883,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Alice  Maxwell.  Mrs. 
Walker  is  a  native  of  this  State,  her  birth  having 
occurred  in  Palestine,  and  is  a  daughter  of  J.  A. 
and  Mary  O.  Maxwell.  One  child,  a  daughter, 
Florence  Alice,  was  born  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Walker, 
but  her  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

In  politics  the  Doctor  generally  votes  with  the 
Republican  party,  but  is  not  strongly  partisan.  In 
1891,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Eltingham,  a  strongly 
Democratic  city,  receiving  a  good  round  majority. 
This  well  indicates  his  personal  popularity  and  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow-townsmen. 
He  has  proved  an  efficient  and  popular  officer, 
winning  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  his  official 
duties  have  brought  him  in  contact. 

Dr.  Walker  is  the  physician  and  surgeon  for  the 
Terre  Haute  &  Indianapolis  Railroad  Company,  and 
for  the  Illinois  Central  and  the  Wabash  Railroad 
Companies.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  medical 
staff  of  St.  Anthony's  Hospital  at  Effingham,  and 
holds  membership  with  the  Esculapian  Society  of 
the  Wabash  Valley,  with  the  Illinois  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  with  the  American  Medical  Society. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Socially,  Dr.  Walker  is  a  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
son, belonging  to  Effingham  Lodge  No.  149,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  and  to  Etlingham  Chapter  No.  87,  R. 
A.  M.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Venice  Lodge  No. 
168,  K.  P.,  of  the  Uniform  Rank. 

Dr.  Walker  has  always  been  a  thorough  student, 
and  is  well  up  with  the  times  in  the  latest  discov- 
eries and  scientific  developments  pertaining  to  the 
profession.  In  his  practice  he  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  has  won  a  foremost  place  in  the 
confidence  of  the  citizens  of  Effingham  and  adja- 


cent country.  As  a  man  and  neighbor  he  is  genial, 
courteous  and  upright,  and  has  made  many  warm 
friends,  regardless  of  professional  or  political  affil- 
iations. 


;. 

(  <X»  _/^  •  X.  \n  tV  .•>;*>    *          r    ••si**  J&0?  -/    N 


&HOMAS  O'DONNELL,  a  retired  farmer  now 
residing  in  Olney,  claims  Ireland  as  the 
land  of  his  birth,  which  occurred  in  County 
Clare  about  1829.  He  is  a  son  of  Roger  and  Ellen 
(Gallagher)  O'Donnell,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  Green  Isle  of  Erin,  where,  as  farming  people, 
they  spent  their  entire  lives.  They  were  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  O'Donnell,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
acquired  a  good  education  in  the  subscription 
schools.  At  length  he  ran  away  from  home  and 
sailed  for  America,  wishing  to  try  his  fortune  in 
the  New  World.  This  was  in  1847.  He  took  pas- 
sage on  an  old  sailing-vessel  at  Galloway,  which 
had  one  hundred  and  fifty  passengers  on  board, 
and  after  twenty-nine  days  spent  upon  the  bosom 
of  the  Atlantic,  anchor  was  dropped  in  the  harbor 
of  Boston.  Our  subject  worked  in  the  cotton  fac- 
tories of  Massachusetts  for  five  years,  and  after- 
ward was  employed  on  public  works  and  railroads 
through  the  Bay  State  and  Pennsylvania.  At 
length  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  for  two  years 
worked  for  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad  Com- 
pany. In  that  time,  by  sawing  wood  at  fifty  cents 
a  cord,  he  managed  to  save  up  $1,200.  In  1855, 
he  came  to  Richland  County  and  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  section  24,  Noble  Town- 
ship, a  part  of  his  old  homestead.  Upon  it  was  a 
log  cabin,  16x18  feet,  but  the  place  was  largely 
covered  with  brush  and  timber. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  O'Donnell  chose  Miss  Annie  Ball,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  during  her 
girlhood.  They  were  married  in  Olney  in  1854, 
and  by  their  union  were  born  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  as  follows:  Edward,  who  married  Miss 
Emma  Boyd,  and  follows  farming  in  Noble  Town- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


539 


ship;  William,  who  wedded  Emma  Gallagher,  and 
is  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the  same 
township;  Ella,  wife  of  Stephen  Shields;  Lizzie, 
the  wife  of  Robert  Robards;  Charles,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Maud  Fryberger,  and  operates  the  old 
homestead;  Annie,  who  lives  with  her  parents;  and 
John,  who  aids  his  brother  Charles  in  farming. 
The  children  were  all  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  .  received  good  educational  privileges.  Miss 
Annie  is  now  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  public  schools.  The  father  has  given  to  each 
of  his  children  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  has 
thus  started  them  out  in  life  well. 

The  farm  which  he  developed  on  coming  to  this 
county  Mr.  O'Donnell  made  his  home  until  1892, 
when  he  came  to  Olney,  where  he  has  since  lived 
a  retired  life.  Prosperity  has  crowned  his  well- 
directed  efforts,  and  before  dividing  Ids  property 
with  his  sons,  he  was  the  owner  of  six  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  deserves 
great  credit  for  his  success  in  life,  as  it  has  been 
achieved  entirely  through  his  own  efforts.  He  has 
always  refused  to  accept  public  office,  preferring 
to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  in- 
terests. He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Buchanan,  and  has  since  been  a  stanch  advocate 
of  the  Democracy.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Olney,  and  are  highly 
respected  people,  whose  friends  in  the  community 
are  many.  He  is  now  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest 
after  years  of  labor  and  has  acquired  a  handsome 
competency. 


«.„  NDREW  .L  KEEKER,  of  Olney,  the  pres- 
01    ent   efficient    County    Clerk  of   Richland 


County,  was  born  near  the  city  which  is 
still  his  home,  March  23,  1863,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Kli/.abeth  (Berlin)  Keefer.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and 
were  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  descent.  Both  had 
been  twice  married.  The  father  of  our  subject 

28 


first  married  Miss  Louisa  Schroeder,  daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Louisa  Schroeder,  and  by  that  union 
were  born  two  sons  and  eight  daughters,  six  yet 
living,  namely:  Lou,  Laura,  Kate,  Lizzie,  Leah 
and  Emma.  Sanford,  John  and  Ann,  the  three 
eldest  children,  and  Caroline,  the  seventh  child, 
are  all  now  deceased.  The  mother  died  about 
1858,  and  in  1860  Mr.  Keefer  was  joined  in  wed- 
lock with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Phelps,  widow  of  John 
Phelps.  Two  children  grace  this  union:  David  M., 
and  Andrew  J.,  of  this  sketch.  Mrs.  Keefer  had 
three  children  by  her  former  marriage,  namely: 
Mary,  now  deceased;  Jennie  and  Hannah. 

In  his  boyhood  the  father  of  our  subject  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Pennsylvania.  In  an  early 
day  he  left  the  Keystone  State  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Cadiz,  Ohio,  near  Cincinnati,  where 
he  remained  for  a  few  years.  He  afterward  lived 
in  Indiana,  and  then  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
near  Olney.  He  ran  the  first  dray  in  this  city,  for 
when  he  came  here  Olney  was  but  a  village.  Mr. 
Keefer  is  now  in  his  eighty-third  .year,  and  his 
wife  is  sixty-six  years  of  age.  In  his  earlier  life, 
he  was  long  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
but  of  late  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Swedenborgian  Church.  His  wife  holds  member- 
ship with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Andrew  J.  Keefer,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm  near  Olney 
and  acquired  the  greater  part  of  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  but  later 
he  supplemented  the  knowledge  there  gained  by 
study  in  the  Olney  High  School,  from  which  be 
was  graduated  in  the  spring  of  1885.  He  began 
teaching  school  in  1880,  and  followed  that  voca- 
tion until  the  spring  of  1892,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  spent  in  the  mail  service.  This  was 
from  1887  until  1889.  He  began  teaching  when 
only  seventeen  37ears  of  age,  and  in  that  profession 
he  met  with  excellent  success,  proving  a  very  able 
instructor. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  1888,  Mr.  Keefer  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Minnie  Hubbard,  adopted 
daughter  of  S.  M.  and  Samira  Iladley,  of  Moores- 
ville,  Ind.  Two  children  graced  their  union, 
daughters:  Bessie  B.  and  Florence  B.  The  young 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


couple  have  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Olney  and  are 
held  in  high  esteem  in  the  social  circles  in  which 
they  move. 

In  the  fall  of  1892,  Mr.  Keefer  was  elected 
County  Clerk  of  Richland  County  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  John  Von 
Gunten,  Jr.  He  is  proving  himself  an  able  and 
capable  officer,  discharging  his  duties  with  the 
same  fidelity  that  marked  his  career  as  a  teacher. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Mutual  Aid,  and  since  his  Twelfth  year  he  has 
held  membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
community  and  his  fellow-citizens  recognize  in 
him  an  honorable,  upright  man. 


jENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  PARK,  one  of.  the 
honored  pioneers  of  Richland  County,  now 
living  a  retired  life  in  Parkersburgh,  is  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  He  was  born  in 
New  London,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1810,  and  was 
the  youngest  son  and  tenth  child  in  a  family 
whose  parents  were  Joseph  and  Abigail  (Eggles- 
ton)  Park.  The  former  was  a  sailor  and  with  two 
of  his  sons  lost  his  life  at  sea.  The  Park  family 
traces  its  ancestry  back  to  Joseph  Park,  who  with 
his  brother  Thomas  came  to  America  at  an  early 
day,  emigrating  from  his  native  land,  Scotland. 
Thomas  settled  in  Red  Hook,  N.  J.  Joseph  re- 
ceived a  grant  of  land  on  the  Mystic  River,  where 
some  of  his  descendants  are  still  living.  Joseph 
and  Thomas  Park  were  brothers  of  Mungo  Park, 
the  noted  African  explorer.  Benedict  Eggleston, 
the  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of 
English  descent,  and  followed  farming  near  North 
Stonington,  Conn. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  whose  sketch  will  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers,  for  he  is  both  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  this  community.  His  child- 
hood days  were  spent  under  the  parental  roof,  and 


his  education  was  acquired  during  three  months' 
attendance  at  the  common  schools  each  winter 
until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  became  an 
apprentice  to  a  stone  mason.  He  served  a  term  of 
about  six  years,  and  on  attaining  his  majority  he 
began  business  for  himself  in  that  line,  continuing 
to  work  steadily  at  the  trade  until  his  removal 
Westward,  and  at  intervals  since.  He  has  also 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  much  of  the  time- 
On  the  25th  of  January,  1835,  Mr.  Park  married 
Almira  Ilowell,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Phoebe 
(Wells)  Ilowell,  of  Groton,  Conn.  The  Ilowell 
family  is  of  Irish  origin,  and  like  the  Park  family 
is  noted  for  longevity.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Park 
were  born  four  children,  but  Roswell  and  Nathan, 
the  first  and  third,  are  now  deceased.  Phoebe  J. 
is  the  wife  of  H.  Higgins;  and  John  0.  M.  com- 
pletes the  family. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Park  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  the  West,  and  acting  on  this  resolution  he 
came  to  Richland,  then  Lawrence,  County,  where 
he  purchased  a  squatter's  claim  on  Sugar  Creek 
Prairie,  for  which  he  gave  $50.  The  next  spring 
he  was  joined  by  his  family,  and  they  began  life 
in  the  West  in  true  pioneer  style,  experiencing 
many  of  the  hardships  and  difficulties  of  frontier 
life.  There  were  but  three  families  living  on  the 
prairie  at  that  time.  The  nearest  gristmill  was 
twenty-four  miles  distant,  and  the  nearest  store 
was  fourteen  miles  away.  Wolves  and  other  wild 
animals  were  very  numerous,  and  deer  and  other 
game  furnished  the  table  with  an  abundance  of 
meat.  Mr.  Park  at  once  began  the  development 
of  his  farm,  and  soon  the  raw  tract  was  trans- 
formed into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  He  planted  an 
orchard  and  sent  to  Connecticut  for  scions  with 
which  to  graft  the  same,  paying  a  postage  on  them 
of  $7.  In  later  years  this  orchard  proved  a  profit- 
able investment.  Mr.  Park  carried  on  farming 
successfully  until  1880,  when  he  left  the  old  home, 
where  he  had  so  long  resided  and,  renting  to  his 
son,  removed  to  the  village  of  Parkersburgh,  where 
he  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Park  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  An- 
drew Jackson,  but  is  now  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  He  served  for  twelve  years  as  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  and  has.  held  other  local  offices. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


541 


Before  coming  West  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
necticut militia  and  during  his  service  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  is  now  living  a 
retired  life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits 
of  his  former  toil,  and  himself  and  wife  are  num- 
bered among  the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of 
Parkersburgh. 


*==*=* 


€HARLES  E.  PALMER  is  the  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  Pilot,  a  weekly  newspaper 
'  of  Noble.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  real- 
estate  firm  of  Palmer  &  Co.,  and  in  the  community 
where  he  lives  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  and  influential  citizens. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  which  is  still  his  home 
October  14,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of  James  F.  and 
Maria  C.  (Dan bury)  Palmer,  the  former  a  native 
of  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Jacob  A.  Palmer,  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  By  profession,  he  was  a  physician  and  for 
many  years  practiced  medicine.  In  1867,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred  a  decade  later, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  3'ears.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Polly  Stark,  was  a  niece  of 
Gen.  Stark,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  William  Dan  bury. 
He  died  of  cholera  in  Williamsburg,  Ohio,  in  mid- 
dle life. 

When  a  boy  James  Palmer  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  Neville,  Ohio,  and  in  his  3'outh  learned  the 
blacksmith  trade.  Later  he  studied  medicine  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Medical  Institute 
in  18o6.  In  August  of  that  year,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  search  of  a  location,  and  determined  to 
make  his  home  in  Noble,  where  he  brought  his 
family  in  September,  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Rail- 
road being  just  completed.  Dr.  Palmer  made  his 
home  in  Noble  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1893,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years  and 
five  days,  an  event  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of 


friends  and  acquaintances.  He  had  an  extensive 
practice  and  was  known  in  almost  every  family  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  He  and  his  wife  were  for 
many  years  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in 
which  he  long  served  as  Steward.  He  was  also  a 
prominent  Mason,  belonging  to  Noble  Lodge  No. 
362,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Richland  Chapter  No.  138,  R. 

A.  M.;and  Gorin  Commadery  No.   14,   K.  T.,  of 
Olney. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  had  a  famity  of  three  sons 
and  one  daughter,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  Eb- 
enezer  L.  married  Miss  Mary  Flanders;  Charles  E. 
is  the  next  younger;  and  Lillie  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Edwin  C.  Wilson. 

Mr.  Palmer  whose  name  heads  this  record  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Noble.  On  attaining  to 
man's  estate,  he  engaged  in  the  grain  business  for 
two  or  three  j'ears,  and  afterward  carried  on  general 
merchandising.  Subsequently  he  followed  farming 
for  two  years  and  then  embarked  in  the  life-insur- 
ance business,  traveling  in  that  line  as  agent 
through  man3r  of  the  Southern  States.  In  1890, 
he  was  elected  Supervisor,  with  a  view  to  investi- 
gating therecordsof  the  county, and  wasemployed 
as  an  accountant  for  about  one  year.  His  labors 
resulted  in  bringing  to  light  a  number  of  shortages, 
amounting  to  $30,000.  When  this  work  was  over, 
he  entered  the  employ  of  Gibson  &  Williamson,  a 
fruit  firm  of  Chicago,  and  traveled  through  all  of 
the  Southern  States  except  Louisiana  and  Florida. 

In  May,  1882,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Palmer  and  Miss  Mollie  V.  Philhower,  daughter 
of  Ira  P.  and  Adeline  (Smith)  Philhower,  of  Noble. 
They  had  two  children,  Beulah  M.  and  Effle  R., 
but  the  latter  died  at  the  age  of  five  and  a-half 
years. 

Mr.  Palmer  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America.  In  1892,  he  was  Vice-President 
of  the  Farmers'  Mutual  Benefit  Association  of  Illi- 
nois, and  is  the  youngest  man  ever  honored  by  an 
election  to  a  State  office  of  this  society.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  Eureka  Lodge  No.  1051,  F.  M. 

B.  A.,  and  is  an  untiring  worker  in  the  order,  hav- 
ing established  many  societies  in  this  and  adjoining 
counties.     Being  a  fine  speaker,  his  services  are  in 
great  demand.     He  also    holds    membership   with 
Noble  Lodge  No.  362,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  the  East- 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


era  Star,  and  belongs  to  Noble  Lodge  No.  482, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  In  January,  1893,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  E.  L.  Palmer,  Joseph  Palmer  and  II. 
Falkener,  and  opened  a  real-estate  oftice  under  the 
name  of  Palmer  &  Co.  These  gentlemen  also  be- 
gan the  publication  of  the  Pilot,  a  weekly  newspa- 
per, of  which  our  subject  is  editor.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Palmer  was  a  Republican  until  1889,  when  he 
became  a  Populist.  He  has  been  honored  with 
many  offices  of  trust.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
he  was  elected  Assessor  of  his  township.  He  served 
for  two  years  as  Village  Trustee,  was  Village 
Treasurer  for  four  years,  and  for  the  past  two  years 
has  been  Supervisor  of  Noble  Township,  which  of- 
fice he  still  fills.  His  public  life  is  above  reproach, 
a  fact  attested  by  his  many  elections  to  positions 
of  honor  and  his  long  continuance  in  those  offices. 
Public-spirited  and  progressive,  the  community 
finds  in  him  one  of  its  best  citizens,  to  whom  much 
is  due  for  the  progress  that  Noble  has  made. 


KNRY  STADGE  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  substantial  farmers  of  Richland  County. 
He  now  resides  on  section  26,  Claremont 
Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a 
good  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acres  of  arable  land.  He  came  to  this  county 
in  1860,  and  in  1866  located  near  his  present 
home,  and  five  years  later  upon  the  place  where  he 
has  since  lived.  The  greater  part  of  his  laud  is 
now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  it  is 
supplied  with  good  improvements,  such  as  are 
found  upon  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. The  buildings  and  everything  upon  the 
place  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  indus- 
try, for  when  he  came  into  possession  of  the  same 
it  was  unimproved  land. 

Mr.  Stadge  is  of  German  birth.  He  was  born  in 
Prussia,  November  29,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of 
Conrad  Stadge,  a  native  of  the  same  country,  who 
in  1853  emigrated  with  his  family  to  America,  lo- 
cating in  Ohio,  from  where  he  afterward  came 


to  Illinois.  In  the  Fatherland  our  subject  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  and  acquired 
a  good  education  in  his  native  tongue,  but  in  the 
English  language  he  is  wholly  self-educated. 
When  a  young  man  of  twenty-two  years  he  deter- 
mined to  seek  a  home  across  the  water,  and  in 
1848,  bidding  good-bye  to  friends  and  family,  he 
took  passage  on  a  sailing-vessel  at  Rotterdam, 
which,  after  a  voyage  of  forty-three  days,  during 
which  time  they  experienced  some  hard  storms, 
dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York  on  the 
12th  of  May.  Mr.  Stadge  at  once  made  his  way 
to  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  where  he  secured 
work  as  a  farm  hand,  being  thus  employed  for 
five  years.  He  then  joined  his  parents  who  had 
emigrated  to  this  country,  and  in  1854  accompan- 
ied the  family  to  Clark  County,  III.,  where  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  six  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to  Rich- 
land  County,  as  before  stated,  landing  in  Olney. 
He  then  operated  a  rented  farm  for  six  years,  and 
later  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  but  slightly 
improved. 

In  1851,  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  Mr. 
Stadge  married  Elizabeth  Bonestead,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  went  to  the  Buckeye  State  when  a 
young  lady  of  seventeen  years.  Her  death  oc- 
curred January  21,  1873.  By  that  union  were 
born  eleven  children,  and  with  two  exceptions  all 
grew  to  mature  years,  were  married  and  have  be- 
come heads  <,f  families,  with  the  exception  of 
Frank.  Mr.  Stadge  was  again  married,  December 
16,  1873,  his  second  marriage  being  with  Mrs. 
Mary  P'ields,  a  widow.  By  her  former  union 
she  had  two  daughters,  who  are  now  married. 
Five  children  have  been  born  of  the  present  mar- 
riage: Simon,  who  is  studying  engineering  and 
aids  in  operating  the  home  farm;  Clara  L. ;  Amelia 
A.;  Effie,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Lillie  May. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Stadge  supported  John  C.Fremont, 
the  first  Presidential  candidate  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  has  since  been  a  warm  advocate  of  the 
measures  and  principles  of  that  organization.  He 
has  held  several  local  offices  and  for  a  number  of 
years  served  on  the  School  Board,  Himself  and 
wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church  of  Olney,  and  are  highly-respected 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


543 


citizens  of  the  community.  Mr.  Stadge  may  truly 
be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  he  came  to  the 
United  States  empty-banded  and  has  since  had  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  has  won 
prosperity  through  well-directed  efforts  and  untir- 
ing industry.  He  need  never  have  occasion  to  re- 
gret the  resolution  that  brought  him  to  this  coun- 
try, for  he  has  here  gained  a  comfortable  compe- 
tency and  secured  a  pleasant  home. 


^ILLIAM  KELLOGG,  who  carries  on  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  section  15,  near 
Wheeler,  North  Muddy  Township,  Jasper 
County,  is  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  State.  lie  was 
born  in  South  Hadley,  January  6, 1829,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  twelve  children  born  of  the  union 
of  Elijah  and  Ruth  (Church)  Kellogg,  who  were 
also  natives  of  Massachusetts.  Of  their  nine  sons 
and  three  daughters  nil  grew  to  mature  years,  but 
only  two  are  now  living,  William  and  Otis.  The 
latter  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead  of  his 
grandfather  in  Massachusetts.  The  father  of  this 
family  followed  farming  near  South  Hadley,  and 
there  spent  his  entire  life,  his  death  occurring  in 
1836,  at  the  age  of  forty  years.  He  belonged  to 
a  military  company  and  was  a  man  of  prominence 
in  that  community.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
about  four  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

When  our  subject  was  quite  young  he  was 
bound  out  to  Jonathan  Terry,  a  farmer  of  Enfield, 
Hartford  County,  Conn.,  with  whom  he  spent  his 
boyhood  and  youth.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Enfield  and  by  studying  in  the 
evenings  by  the  light  of  a  tallow  candle.  He 
wished  to  win  success  in  life,  and  embraced  every 
opportunity  to  aid  him  in  the  course  he  had 
marked  out.  When  a  young  man,  he  and  his 
brother  Ilawley  engaged  in  business  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  on  the  corner  of  Mill  and  Main  Streets,  for 
about  a  year.  William  then  removed  to  New 
York  City,  where  for  a  time  he  engaged  in  clerk- 


ing in  a  furniture  store.  Later  he  carried  on  a 
butter  and  spice  store,  where  he  did  business  for 
himself  until  1861.  In  the  early  part  of  that  year 
he  sold  out  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  worked 
on  a  farm  for  Joel  Blackmail. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  following,  Mr.  Kellogg  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Maria  O.  Blackman,  the 
daughter  of  his  employer.  Her  parents  were  both 
Connecticut  people.  Her  father  is  still  living  at 
the  age  of  ninety  years.  Her  mother,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Wealthy  Tilden,  is  now  de- 
ceased. Four  children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kellogg.  Charles,  the  eldest,  was  twice 
married.  He  wedded  Miss  Rosa  Twaddle,  and 
afterwards  married  a  lady  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  he  is  now  studying  medicine  and  working 
at  the  printer's  trade.  Fred  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Dora  Zimmerman,  and  resides  in 
Ashland,  Ohio,  where  he  is  employed  as  book- 
keeper with  Myers  &  Bros.,  manufacturers  of  farm- 
ing implements.  They  have  two  children,  Annie 
and  Florence.  Willie  is  married  and  resides  on 
a  farm  near  Wheeler.  Florence,  the  only  daugh- 
ter by  the  first  wife  of  Mr.  Kellogg,  is  living  with 
her  grandparents  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
teacher.  In  1868,  Mr.  Kellogg  came  to  Illinois 
and  four  years  later  his  wife  died  after  a  lingering 
illness.  Three  months  before  her  death  she  went 
to  her  parents'  home  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  where  she 
passed  away.  On  the  26th  of  March,  1872,  Mr. 
Kellogg  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Edith  Ellis, 
daughter  of  Freeman  and  Merinda  (Denmau) 
Ellis,  the  former  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the  latter 
of  New  York.  They  had  three  children,  George 
O.,  Bertha  M.  and  Fannie  R. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Kellogg  came  to  Jasper 
County  in  1868,  and  purchased  six  hundred  acres 
of  land  on  section  15,  North  Muddy  Township. 
One-half  of  this  afterwards  went  in  payment  of  a 
debt.  Subsequently  he  sold  eighty  acres,  and  has 
since  purchased  three  other  eighty-acre  tracts.  He 
and  his  son  Willie  now  own  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  in  addition  to  a  number  of 
valuable  town  lots  in  Wheeler.  Mr.  Kellogg  was 
the  first  settler  on  section  15,  and  still  lives  in  the 
house  which  was  first  his  home.  In  connection 
with  farming  he  also  carries  on  stock-raising, 


544 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


breeding  horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  and  by  his  good  management 
and  well-directed  efforts  be  has  achieved  the  com- 
petence which  he  now  possesses.  Mr.  Kellogg  now 
holds  the  office  of  Township  Clerk  and  has  also 
filled  the  position  of  School  Director  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and  is 
a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  mani- 
fests a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  this  community.  Himself  and 
wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church 
while  residing  at  Wakeman,  Ohio,  but  as  there  is 
no  church  of  that  denomination  in  this  vicinity, 
they  now  attend  the  Methodist  Church  in  Wheeler. 


SHOMAS  J.  DECKER  is  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Richland  County,  and 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  its  pioneer 
families.  He  now  resides  on  section  33,  Decker 
Township,  and  in  this  locality  was  born  in  Octo- 
ber, 1850.  The  township  was  named  for  his  uncle, 
Thomas  J.  Decker,  for  whom  our  subject  was 
named  also.  His  father,  John  C.  Decker,  was  born 
in  Gibson  County,  Ind.,  and  came  from  an  old 
Virginian  family.  He  remained  at  home  until 
about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  lie  left  the 
parental  roof  and  came  to  Illinois,  joining  his 
brother  Thomas.  In  this  county  he  married 
Lucinda  Brown,  a  native  of  Tennessee.  From  the 
Government  he  entered  land  and  developed  a 
farm.  He  possessed  good  business  ability  and  ac- 
quired a  handsome  property.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat  and  in  religious  belief  he  was  a  Baptist. 
His  death  occurred  October  11,  1863,  at  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  wife  died  only  three  days  later,  at 
the  age  of  forty-three  years. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Decker  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Mrs.  Mary  Ellen  Ring,  now  deceased; 
Phoehe  Clarinda,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty-five 
years;  Thomas,  of  this  sketch;  Joseph  F.,  a  farmer 
of  Madison  Township,  Richland  County;  John  N., 
who  is  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  in 


Noble;  Rohesa  J.,  wife  of  Joseph  Johnson,  who 
lives  near  New  Orleans,  La.;  and  William  H.,  also 
of  Louisiana. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  amid  the 
wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  and  distinctly  re- 
members the  county  when  he  could  ride  for  miles 
in  any  direction  without  a  settlement  to  impede 
his  progress.  His  parents  dying  when  he  was  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  and  thus  left  an  orphan,  he  went 
to  live  with  his  brother-in-law,  Henry  Ring,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  the  age  of  eighteen.  He 
then  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and  the  only 
capital  and  property  which  he  possessed  was  a 
black  mare  worth  $50.  He  began  farming  on 
shares  with  his  brother-in-law,  and  at  length,  as  the 
result  of  his  labors,  he  acquired  some  capital,  with 
which  he  purchased  eighty-seven  and  a-half  acres 
of  land,  heavily  timbered  with  oak  trees.  There 
was  a  small  clearing,  however,  upon  which  was  a 
frame  house,  16x20  feet,  a  log  stable,  and  a  garden 
for  vegetables.  In  the  years  which  have  since 
passed,  a  great  transformation  has  taken  place 
upon  his  land.  He  now  has  a  good  home  and 
well-developed  farm,  and  his  rich  and  fertile  fields 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  them.  In  connec- 
tion with  general  farming  he  has  also  traded  in 
stock,  operated  a  thresher  and  a  sawmill. 

In  September,  1872,  Mr.  Decker  married  Pernina 
Dilley,  who  died  in  1875.  They  had  two  children, 
but  both  are  now  deceased.  He  later  married  Mrs. 
Alice  Luce,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  she  died 
leaving  a  son,  Rolla  B.,  now  sixteen  years  of  age. 
In  1879  Mr.  Decker  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  J.  Fowler,  of  Lawrence  County,  111. 
They  have  two  children,  F.  F.,  born  December  6, 
1882,  and  Thomas  Thurman,  December  18,  1888. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  Mr.  Decker  holds  membership  with  the 
Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Modern  WToodmen  of 
Noble.  In  1872  he  voted  for  Horace  Greeley,  and 
has  since  supported  the  Democratic  party.  He 
held  the  office  of  Township  Clerk  three  terms  and 
was  twice  Commissioner,  but  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker.  In  his  youth  Mr.  Decker  had  very 
limited  privileges,  either  in  the  line  of  education 
or  otherwise,  but  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


upward,  gaining  a  comfortable  competency  and  at 
the  same  time  winning  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  with  whom  business  or  social  relations  have 
brought  him  in  contact. 


|[  OHN  SCRUGHAM,  Principal  of  the  public 
schools  of  Noble,  was  born  near  his  present 
home  in  Richland  County,  January  4, 1864, 
and  is  the  eldest  of  five  children  whose  par- 
ents were  George  W.  and  Nancy  (Shoemacker) 
Scrugham.  The  family  is  of  German  origin,  but 
the  grandfather,  Elisha  Scrugham,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  served  in  the  Mexican  War,  during 
which  he  was  wounded.  He  held  membership  with 
the  Christian  Church,  and  died  when  past  the  age 
of  sixty  years.  The  Shoemacker  family  was  also 
of  German  descent.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Washington  Shoemacker,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana,  and  died  near  Ediuburg,  that 
State,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven.  In  relig- 
ious belief  he  was  a  Methodist. 

Throughout  his  life,  George  Scrugham  has  fol- 
lowed farming.  After  attaining  his  majority,  he 
located  in  C\ny  Count}',  in  1861,  and  two  years 
later  came  to  Richland  County.  In  1865,  how- 
ever, he  returned  to  the  former  county  and  bought 
a  farm  in  Clay  City  Township,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three  acres  of  good  land,  which  he  has 
transformed  from  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  into  rich 
and  fertile  fields.  The  place  is  also  supplied  with 
a  comfortable  residence,  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  well-kept  fences  and  all  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm.  The  children  of  the  fam- 
ily are  John,  Edward,  Thomas,  Ida  and  Henry. 
All  are  yet  living. 

Prof.  Scrugham  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  in  Clay  County,  and  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen, he  entered  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal 
School,  of  Valparaiso,  and  a  few  months  later  be- 
came a  student  in  the  Southern  Normal,  of  Mitch- 


ell, Ind.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1882, 
having  completed  the  teachers'  course.  The  suc- 
ceeding four  years  of  his  life  were  passed  as  a 
teacher  in  the  district  schools  of  Clay  County. 
In  the  autumn  of  1886,  he  again  entered  the 
Southern  Normal  School,  completed  the  scientific 
course,  and  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Sci- 
ence in  1887.  He  was  then  employed  as  teacher 
in  the  grammar  department  of  the  schools  of  Clay- 
City  in  1887  and  1888. 

On  the  22d  of  June  of  that  latter  year,  Prof. 
Scrugham  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ora  V. 
Spencer,  daughter  of  Benjamin  R.  and  Emma 
(Davis)  Spencer,  of  Clay  City.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Bertha.  The  par- 
ents are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  the  young  couple  are  widely  and 
favorably  known  in  this  community,  ranking  high 
in  social  circles. 

In  the  fall  of  1888,  Mr.  Scrugham  was  elected 
principal  of  the  Bible  Grove  school,  where  he  re- 
mained a  year.  In  1889,  he  was  chosen  principal 
of  the  Louisville  schools,  and  held  that  position 
two  .years.  In  1891,  he  was  called  to  serve  as 
principal  of  the  public  schools  of  Noble,  and  this 
position  he  still  occupies.  Prof.  Scrugham  pos- 
sesses special  aptitude  for  the  work  in  which  he  is 
now  engaged.  He  is  a  thorough  student  himself 
and  a  close  observer  of  humJh  nature,  and  his 
management  and  control  of  the  schools  have  been 
attended  with  very  gratifying  results.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Noble  Camp  No.  1281,  M.  W.  A., 
and  in  politics  is  a  Republican. 


L.  ALLARD,  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer  of  Noble  Township,  Richland  Coun- 
ty, residing  on  section  10,  is  a  native  of 
the  Buckeye  State.  The  place  of  his  birth 
was  in  Morgan  County,  and  the  date  is  March  5, 
1830.  On  the  maternal  side  he  is  of  Scotch  de- 
scent, his  great-grandfather  having  been  born  in 
Scotland.  The  Allard  family  is  of  Irish  origin. 


546 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Shadrach  Allard,  the  grandfather,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  an  early  day,  entered  the  Colonial  service 
and  was  a  soldier  throughout  the  Revolutionary 
War.  Leaving  his  home  in  Vermont,  he  went  to 
New  York,  and  subsequently  became  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  His  son,  Samuel  Allard,  was  born  on 
the  Green  Mountains  of  Vermont,  and  at  the  age 
of  six  years  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  the  Em- 
pire State,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  learned 
the  woodworker's  trade.  When  about  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  midst 
of  a  forest  hewed  out  a  farm.  He  lived  in  Mor- 
gan County  for  forty  years,  but  the  last  few  years 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  Perry  County.  He  owned 
a  very  fine  farm  and  was  the  wealthiest  man  in  his 
township.  He  was  also  a  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizen,  and  for  thirty-one  years  he  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  same  township. 
In  politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterward  a 
Republican.  He  belonged  to  the  New  Light 
Church  and  lived  an  upright,  honorable  life,  which 
won  him  the  esteem  of  all.  He  was  married  in 
Ohio  to  Lorain  Maxon,  a  native  of  Connecticut. 
She  survived  her  husband  some  years,  and  died 
in  Morgan  County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, among  whom  were  three  pairs  of  twin  boys. 
Lorain  died  in  Ohio;  Samuel  is  living  in  Mor- 
gan County,  Ohio;  Shadrach  died  in  Clay  County, 
111.;  Daniel  and  William  are  both  residents  of 
Ohio;  R.  L.  and  his  twin  brother,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, are  the  next  younger;  Catherine  is  the 
wife  of  Ben  Thissel,  of  Morgan  County;  Hiram, 
who  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  had  a  twin 
who  died  in  infancy;  Hattie  is  the  wife  of  Elijah 
Musgrove,  of  West  Union,  Ohio;  and  Ebenezer 
and  Edwin  complete  the  family.  The  former  was 
also  one  of  the  boys  in  blue,  and  now  lives  in 
Perry  County,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Allard,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  was 
reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  his 
boyhood  days  being  spent  upon  his  father's  farm. 
He  aided  in  the  development  of  the  old  home- 
stead, for  during  his  early  boyhood  only  a  few 
acres  had  been  cleared.  The  home  of  the  family 
was  a  log  cabin.  There  were  no  schools  in  the 


community,  but  his  father  started  a  district  organ- 
ization, and  for  thirty  years  he  was  the  prime  fac- 
tor in  that  locality  in  establishing  and  maintain- 
ing schools.  Our  subject's  mother  has  been  a  school 
teacher,  and  she  educated  her  husband,  who  at- 
tended school  only  three  months  in  his  life. 
Through  the  efforts  of  his  parents,  Mr.  Allard  of 
this  sketch  secured  a  good  education.  He  remained 
at  home  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  then 
began  working  in  a  livery  stable.  Later  he  was 
overseer  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle. 

When  about  twenty-four  years  of  age,  on  the 
29th  of  September,  1853,  Mr.  Allard  was  married 
in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mahala,  daugh- 
ter of  George  W.  and  Elizabeth  Matik.  She  was 
born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  of  German  de- 
scent. She  owned  some  land,  and  the  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  it.  Later 
they  sold  out,  and  for  two  years  Mr.  Allard  oper- 
ated a  rented  farm.  Subsequently  he  purchased 
land  in  Perry  .County,  but  soon  after  abandoned 
agricultural  pursuits  to  enter  the  service  of  his 
country. 

On  the  2d  of  April,  1863,  our  subject  enlisted 
in  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Sixtieth  Ohio 
Infantry,  under  Capt.  Hiram  Thorp  and  Col.  Reez- 
ner.  The  regiment  assembled  and  was  drilled  at 
Zanesville,  Ohio,  as  Home  Guards.  The  troops 
went  first  to  West  Virginia,  and  then  to  Mary- 
land, doing  guard  and  scouting  duty,  and  skir- 
mishing with  the  guerrillas.  When  the  regiment 
was  discharged,  Mr.  Allard  returned  home  and 
was  drafted  into  the  infantry,  but  after  three 
weeks  spent  in  New  York  he  again  returned  to 
Ohio.  In  September,  1865,  accompanied  by  his 
family,  he  removed  to  Olney,  and  a  year  later 
bought  the  farm  in  Noble  Township  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  good  land,  highly  cultivated, 
and  well  improved  with  a  substantial  residence 
and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allard  have  been  born 
four  children.  Sylvanus,  born  in  Ohio,  mar- 
^  ried  Miss  Brown;  Amy  is  the  wife  of  J.  Brown, 
a  farmer  of  the  same  township;  Hattie  is  at  home; 
and  Annie  is  the  wife  of  John  Patterson,  an  agri- 
culturist of  Noble  Township.  The  parents  of  this 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  are  people  of  sterling  worth.  Mr. 
Allard  is  a  member  of  Noble  Post  No.  292,  G.  A.  R. 
The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend 
and  for  twenty-one  years  he  served  as  School  Di- 
rector, during  which  time  he  did  effective  service 
in  its  interests.  By  his  energy  and  enterprise  he 
has  accumulated  a  handsome  competence,  and  is 
surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  of  life. 


AMES  H.  BECKETT  is  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  on  section  15,  Noble 
Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land  in 
an  excellent  location.  It  is  nicely  improved,  and 
all  the  accessories  and  conveniences  of  a  model 
farm  are  there  found.  The  owner  is  an  enter- 
prising and  energetic  man,  and  the  neat  appear- 
ance of  his  place  well  indicates  his  thrift. 

Mr.  Beckett  was  born  in  Butler  County,  Ohio, 
October  24. 1838,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hill)  Beckett,  the  former  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  In  early 
life  they  went  with  their  respective  parents  to 
Ohio,  where  they  were  joined  in  wedlock.  The 
grandfather,  James  Beckett,  was  born  in  Ireland 
and  was  educated  for  a  Catholic  priest,  but  as  he 
did  not  wish  to  enter  the  priesthood,  he  ran  away 
from  home  and  came  to  America,  locating  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  farming.  In 
1805,  he  went  to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  State.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Reuben  Hill,  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  removing  Westward  took  up  his  residence 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  shoemak- 
ing,  when  the  city  was  but  a  village.  He  was  a 
Methodist  in  religious  belief  and  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

James  Beckett,  Sr.,  was  three  times  married. 
He  wedded  Miss  Thompson,  of  Ohio,  and  unto 
them  were  born  four  children,  but  Sarah  is  the 
only  one  now  living.  She  makes  her  home  in 


Butler  County,  Ohio.  The  mother  died  in  1835. 
Our  subject  is  one  of  the  eight  children  born  of 
the  second  marriage.  They  are  Emma,  Ellen, 
Anna,  James  II.,  Robert,  George,  John  and  Thomas. 
All  reside  near  the  old  homestead  in  Ohio  with 
the  exception  of  Robert,  who  is  living  in  Argyle, 
Iowa,  and  James.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  David 
Shellenbarger,  of  Butler  County.  Ohio,  and  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  William  Riley,  of  Hamilton,  Ohio. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Beckett  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
in  1852.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckett  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  For  his  third 
wife  he  chose  Miss  Mary  Ann  Weaver,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  children:  Frank,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Joseph,  Taylor  and  Lizzie.  The 
father  died  about  1880,  and  his  widow  ie  now  liv- 
ing on  the  old  homestead  in  the  Buckeye  State. 

Mr.  Beckett  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  old  farm  in  Butler 
County,  remaining  with  his  parents  until  twenty- 
four  3'ears  of  age.  He  was  then  married,  on  the 
12th  of  March,  1863,  to  Miss  Martha,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Jane  (Marshall)  Nichol,  residents  of 
Butler  County.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children:  May,  now  the  wife  of  Horace  McCol- 
lough,  station  agent  at  Noble,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children,  Harry  and  Walter;  Nellie,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years;  Frances,  wife  of 
Charles  Evans,  a  farmer,  by  whom  she  has  two 
daughters,  Martha  and  Jennie;  and  Bessie  and 
Harry,  who  are  still  at  home. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beckett  came 
at  once  to  Richland  Count}',  and  after  residing 
fourteen  months  in  Noble,  took  up  their  residence 
upon  the  farm  that  has  since  been  their  home. 
Mrs.  Beckett  was  called  to  her  final  rest  August 
17,  1889,  aged  fifty  years.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  her  death  was  deep- 
ly mourned  by  many. 

Mr.  Beckett  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, belonging  to  Noble  Lodge  No.  362,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  and 
Gorin  Comruandery  No.  14,  K.  T.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1892  was  nominated  for  the 
office  of  Representative,  but,  this  being  a  Republi- 
can district,  he  was  defeated.  Pie  has  served  as 
Supervisor  one  term,  as  School  Director  a  number 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  years,  Township  Collector  three  terms,  and 
Road  Commissioner  fifteen  years.  He  has  led  an 
honorable,  upright  life,  has  faithfully  discharged 
his  public  duties  and  is  recognized  as  a  valued  citi- 
zen of  the  community. 


OHN  SCHNEPPER,  who  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  on  section 
29,  Noble  Township,  Richland  County,  was 
born  June  12,  1857,  in  Warrick  County, 
Ind.  His  father,  Gottfried  Schnepper,  was  born  in 
Germany,  and  is  now  seventy  years  of  age.  He 
served  in  the  German  army,  and  in  1840  crossed 
the  ocean  to  the  United  States,  locating  first  near 
Boonville,  Warrick  County,  Ind.  He  married  be- 
fore leaving  Germany,  and  his  wife  died  in  1860. 
The  following  }'ear  the  father  of  our  subject  re- 
moved to  Clay  County,  111.,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest  he  cleared  and  improved  a  farm,  mak- 
ing an  excellent  home,  which  is  still  his  place 
of  residence.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  lie 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mary  Rubart.  The  children  of  the  first  family 
were  Fred,  who  was  born  in  Germany  and  is  now 
living  in  Clay  County;  Gottfried,  deceased;  John, 
of  this  sketch;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Peter  Pflaum,  and 
one  sister,  who  died  the  day  after  their  arrival 
in  America.  Mr.  Schnepper  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  his  political  belief  is 
a  Democrat.  He  came  to  this  country  in  order  to 
seek  a  fortune  in  the  New  World,  and  although 
he  has  not  become  a  millionaire,  he  has  become  the 
owner  of  a  good  property  and  has  a  pleasant  home, 
in  which  he  now  lives,  surrounded  by  all  the  com- 
forts of  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  very  limited 
educational  privileges.  His  services  were  needed 
at  home,  and  from  an  earl}'  age  he  might  be  found 
aiding  in  clearing  and  opening  up  the  farm.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  only  three  years  old.  He 
gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life 


for  himself,  and  whatever  success  he  has  achieved 
has  been  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  For  some 
time  he  worked  in  the  neighborhood  as  a  farm 
hand,  but  about  1890  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  20,  Noble  Township.  Only  ten 
acres  had  been  cleared  and  there  were  no  buildings 
on  it  except  a  log  cabin.  He  got  his  start  in  life  in 
California,  whither  he  went  in  1871.  He  spent 
three  and  a-half  years  in  Colusa  County,  working 
on  ranches,  and  thus  secured  the  nucleus  of  his 
present  possessions.  He  now  owns  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  acres  of  good  land  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  twenty-eight  acres  the  entire  amount  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  Noble  Town- 
ship in  1882,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Schnep- 
per and  Miss  Lizzie  Pflaum,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  when  a  child  of  five  years  came  to  Illinois. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  five  children: 
William,  born  April  21,  1883;  Maine,  who  is  eight 
years  of  age;  August,  a  lad  of  six  years;  Harr}'  and 
Lizzie  May.  They  also  lost  one  child,  Walter, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

Mr.  Schnepper  cast  his  first  vote  for  Grover 
Cleveland,  and  in  his  social  relations  is  an  Odd 
Fellow.  For  his  success  in  life  he  deserves  great 
credit.  Starting  out  witli  empty  hands,  he  has 
labored  long  and  earnestly  and  his  life  has  been  a 
busy  and  useful  one.  The  prosperity,  however, 
which  rewards  faithful  effort  has  come  to  him  and 
he  is  now  ranked  among  the  substantial  and  well- 
to-do  citizens  of  his  adopted  county.  His  success 
is  well  merited,  for  his  career  has  been  one  of  fair 
and  honorable  dealings. 


AMES  M.  GALLAGHER  is  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Richland  County,  residing  on 
section  1,  Decker  Township.  He  is  engaged 
in  farming  and  in  merchandising  and  is 
Postmaster  at  Gallagher.  He  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead,  December  10,  1859,  and  was  reared  on 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


549 


a  farm.  During  his  boyhood  he  aided  in  its  culti- 
vation through  the  summer  months,  while  in  the 
winter  season  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He 
can  remember  when  the  county  was  comparatively 
new  and  sparsely  settled. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home 
and  was  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Mary  C.  Garner,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  C.  and  Elizabeth 
Garner.  Three  children  have  graced  their~union, 
a  son  and  two  daughters,  Frank,  Delia  and  Fan- 
nie. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gallagher  are  well-known  citi- 
zens of  this  community  and  are  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. 

In  1887,  our  subject  embarked  in  merchandising 
on  quite  a  limited  scale,  but  he  has  constantly  in- 
creased his  stock,  and  is  doing  a  good  business, 
having  gained  a  liberal  patronage  by  his  upright 
and  honorable  dealing  and  his  earnest  desire  to 
please  his  customers.  He  also  has  charge  of  the 
postofflce,  and  owns  an  eighty-acre  farm,  on  which 
is  a  seven-acre  orchard  of  apples  and  peaches.  In 
politics,  he  is  independent,  holding  himself  free  to 
support  the  men  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to 
fill  the  office,  yet  on  subjects  of  State  and  National 
importance  generally  votes  the  Democratic  ticket. 
He  is  an  intelligent  and  enterprising  young  man, 
possessed  of  good  business  ability,  and  his  life  will 
no  doubt  be  a  successful  one. 


,R.  ABRAHAM  GILLASPIE,  who  resides 
on  section  26,  Germantown  Township,  is 
numbered  among  the  pioneer  physicians 
of  Rich  land  County,  having  here  made 
his  home  since  1861.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  this  community, and  his  many  friends, 
we  feel  assured,  will  receive  witli  pleasure  this 
record  of  his  life  work.  He  was  born  near  Flem- 
ingsburg,  Ky.,  November  28,  1816,  and  is  there- 


fore nearly  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  His  fa- 
ther, Isaiah  Gillaspie,  was  a  native  of  York  County, 
Pa.  The  family  is  of  Irish  origin  and  was  prob- 
ably founded  in  Pennsylvania  during  Colonial 
days.  Isaiah  accompanied  his  father,  William 
Gillaspie,  to  Mason  County.  Ky.  The  latter  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  serving  under  Wash- 
ington for  four  and  a-half  years.  He  married 
Polly  McSwain,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
settled  in  Mason  County,  Ky.,  in  1794,  the  year 
that  Gen.  Wayne  made  his  treaty  with  the  In- 
dians. They  lived  for  a  time  in  a  block  house, 
and  near  there  she  died  and  was  interred  in  Lish- 
brook  Cemetery,  near  Washington,  Mason  County. 
He  reached  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three 
years. 

After  attaining  to  mature  years,  the  father  of 
our  subject  married  Phoebe  Worthington,  a  na- 
tive of  Fleming  County,  Ky.,  and  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Nellie  (Power)  Worthington.  From 
the  time  of  his  marriage  until  1839  he  made  his 
home  in  Kentucky,  and  then  removed  to  Putnam 
County,  Ind.,  becoming  one  of  its  pioneers.  The 
blood  of  a  Revolutionary  hero  i;an  in  his  veins, 
and  when  the  country  again  became  engaged  in 
war  with  Great  Britain,  in  1812,  he  manifested  his 
patriotism  by  entering  the  service.  He  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  Boone  County,  near  Leba- 
non, dying  in  1869  as  the  result  of  a  fourth  stroke 
of  paralysis.  His  wife  survived  him  until  1871. 
They  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing  and  are 
heads  of  families. 

The  Doctor  spent  his  youth  in  the  State  of  his 
nativity.  His  educational  privileges  in  his  younger 
years  were  very  limited.  In  1836  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  Dudley  and  finished 
under  Dr.  John  B.  Clark,  a  regular  graduate 
upder  Prof.  Dudley.  He  entered  upon  practice 
in  Russellville,  Ind.,  and  later  was  for  sixteen 
months  associated  in  partnership  with  his  former 
preceptor.  In  1854  he  went  to  Lawrence  County, 
Ind.,  and  in  July  of  that  year  he  brought  a  part 
of  his  goods  to  Richland  County.  *  In  the  fall  he 
brought  the  remainder  of  his  effects  and  his  fam- 
ily, and  took  up  his  residence  upon  the  farm 
which  he  had  purchased,  and  upon  which  he  has 


550 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


since  made  his  home.  For  thirty-two  years  he  has 
been  engaged  in  active  practice,  and  his  skill 
and  ability  have  won  him  a  liberal  patronage. 

The  Doctor  was  married  in  Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash 
County,  111.,  to  Miss  Fidelia  Jane  Gordon,  who 
died  of  consumption  in  1855.  In  Lawrence  County 
he  later  wedded  Ellen  Rogers,  a  native  of  Sene- 
caville,  Ohio.  Her  death  occurred  February  27, 
1882.  The  children  born  of  that  union  are 
Isaiah  Jerome,  who  died  April  14,  1882,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five  years;  Mary  Phoebe,  wife  of 
L.  Wigmot,  of  Adair  Coun.ty,  Iowa;  Flora  Eva- 
rette  Bella,  who  married  Sylvester  Carr,  and  after 
his  death,  which  occurred  January  26,  1882, 
became  the  wife  of  James  Pryer,  of  Jasper  Coun- 
ty, in  March,  1888;  Nelson  Clark  Morton,  who  is 
married  and  lives  on  the  home  farm;  Ida  Ann,  at 
home:  William,  who  is  living  in  Iowa;  Elbert,  at 
home;  and  two  children  who  died  in  early  life. 

Dr.  Gillaspie  is  widely  known  among  our  readers. 
His  life  has  been  well  and  worthily  passed,  and 
his  upright  and  honorable  career  has  gained  for  him 
high  esteem  and  warm  regard  wherever  he  has  gone. 
In  politics  he  was  originally  an  old-line  Whig, 
but  since  its  organization  has  supported  every 
candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  the  office 
of  President  and  of  the  Governor  of  the  State. 
In  his  religious  belief  he  is  a  Methodist,  having 
been  a  member  of  the  church  since  1840. 


MASON  is  one  of  the  represent- 
ative and  prominent  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers  of  Grove  Township,  and  resides  on 
section  29.  He  is  also  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  Jasper  County,  having  besides  his  home- 
stead farm  in  Grove  Township  a  tract  of  land  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  about  a  mile  north 
of  Wheeler.  A  native  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Mason  was 
born  in  Edwards  County  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1864,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  Mason, 
who  are  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  Philip  Mason 


on  another  page  of  this  work.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  neigh- 
borhood, and  is  therefore  numbered  among  the 
pioneers. 

Gilbert  Mason  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads. 
He  was  reared  upon  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  lie  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  His  time  was  spent  at  work 
in  the  fields  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
schools  of  North  Muddy  Township,  where  his  edu- 
cation was  acquired.  Throughout  his  entire  life 
he  has  been  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  the  experience  of  his  boyhood  well  fitted  him 
for  his  business  career  in  the  future. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  1889,  Mr.  Mason  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  E.  Caldwell, 
daughter  of  Albert  G.  and  Rebecca  J.  Caldwell. 
Her  father  is  also  numbered  among  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Jasper  County,  where  he  took  up  his 
residence  almost  half  a  century  ago.  By  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  two 
interesting  boys,  Harrell  C.  and  Dell. 

Mr.  Mason 's  father  acquired  a  very  large  landed 
estate,  and  to  his  son  Gilbert  he  gave  a  tract  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  located  a  mile 
north  of  Wheeler,  the  same  which  we  before  men- 
tioned. It  is  still  in  his  possession  and  yields  him 
a  good  income.  Mrs.  Mason  also  received  from 
her  father  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  upon 
this  farm  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  now 
make  their  home.  He  also  owns  other  property, 
including  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  grove  south- 
west of  their  home,  fifty  acres  of  which  are  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Grove  Township, and  the  remaining  thirty 
acres  on  section  12,  North  Muddy  Township.  His 
landed  possessions  aggregate  six  hundred  acres  al- 
together, and  with  the  exception  of  the  eighty 
acres  of  timberland  just  mentioned,  the  entire 
amount  is  under  a  high  st:ite  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved. 

The  home  place  has  a  large  and  handsome  resi- 
dence, together  with  substantial  barns  and  sheds, 
the  latent  improved  machinery  and  all  other  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm.  The  fertile  fields  yield  to 
the  owner  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care 
and  labor.  In  connection  with  the  cultivation  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


551 


his  land,  lie  also  carries  on  stock-raising  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  raising  horses,  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  all  of  his  grain  he  uses  to  feed  them.  He  for- 
merly raised  many  thoroughbred  trotting-horses, 
but  is  now  giving  his  attention  principally  to  the 
breeding  of  Hereford  cattle,  of  which  he  now  has 
a  herd  of  about  one  hundred. 

In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Mason  is  connected 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  with  Wheeler 
Lodge  No.  131,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability,  and  his  energetic  and  enterprising 
spirit  has  won  him  success,  lie  is  well  known  in 
the  county  where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  substantial  citizens. 
The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  is  the  abode  of 
hospitality  and  they  hold  an  enviable  position  in 
social  circles. 


ARTIN  HANNAMAN,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  22, 
North  Muddy  Township,  Jasper  County, 
was  born  in  West  Price,  Germany,  Au- 
gust 25,  1820.  At  an  early  age  he  was  left  an  or- 
phan. He  had  two  brothers  and  a  sister,  but  the 
brothers,  Christ  and  Frederick,  both  died  ere  Mar- 
tin left  the  Fatherland.  Both  were  married,  and 
the  elder  left  three  children  at  his  death,  and  the 
younger  one  child. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  a 
farm,  and  from  a  very  early  age  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  His  educational  privileges  were 
quite  limited,  being  confined  to  a  few  terms'  at- 
tendance at  the  common  schools.  In  his  native 
land  he  married  Miss  Caroline  Plaguer,  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Caroline  Plaguer,  and  a  native  of 
Germany,  as  were  her  parents.  Three  children 
were  born  unto  them,  but  one  died  in  infancy. 
The  others  are  August  and  Nellie.  The  mother 
died  in  Germany  in  1854,  and  in  February,  1857, 
Mr.  Ilannaman  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Henrietta  Plaguer.  a  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  They  have  three  sons  and  four  daugh- 


ters. Lena,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Pen- 
ning, of  Elfingham  County,  and  they  have  eight 
children:  Fred,  John,  William,  Henry,  Millie, 
Mary,  Augusta  and  an  infant  daughter.  Gusta, 
the  second  child  of  the  Ilannaman  family,  is  the 
wife  of  Conrad  Abling,  a  farmer  of  North  Muddy 
Township,  by  whom  she  has  three  children:  Em- 
ma, Henry  and  Alma.  Julia  married  William 
Miller,  a  farmer  living  two  and  a-half  miles  from 
Wheeler,  and  they  have  four  children;  Ida,  Min- 
nie, Julia  and  Nora.  Millie  is  the  next  younger. 
Henry  wedded  Kate  Meurlot,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Lizzie  (Tisehhauser)  Meurlot,  the  former  a 
native  of  France,  and  the  latter  of  Clinton  Coun- 
ty, 111.  Mrs.  Meurlot's  mother,  however,  was  bora 
in  Switzerland.  Henry  resides  upon  the  old  home- 
stead and  aids  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm.  Frederick  and  Ernest  are  the  youngest 
members  of  the  family. 

In  June,  1859,  Mr.  Hannaman,  having  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  from  Germany  to  America, 
lauded  in  Chicago,  which  was  then  but  a  small 
city.  After  a  few  weeks  he  went  iuto  the  country 
and  worked  by  the  day.  He  was  employed  for 
three  years  by  "Long  John"  Wentworth,  and  one 
summer  by  Mr.  Justice,  who  kept  the  bridewell  in 
Chicago.  He  afterwards  purchased  a  small  place 
two  miles  south  of  Summit,  on  which  was  a  small 
shanty,  the  purchase  price  being  $73.  Later  he 
rented  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  for 
which  he  paid  $37.50,  or  merely  the  taxes.  That 
year  he  mowed  ninet3'-nine  acres  of  grass  with  the 
scythe,  and  sold  that  on  the  remaining  sixty-one 
acres  for  $1  an  acre  to  parties  who  cut  it  them- 
selves. Hay  was  very  high  priced,  he  selling  his 
hay.  for  $10  per  ton  in  the  Chicago  market.  In 
1865,  Mr.  Hannaman  sold  his  farm  and  purchased 
eighty  acres  four  miles  distant.  He  could  not  get 
a  deed  for  it,  however,  and  so  went  to  Minnesota, 
where  he  made  arrangements  to  buy  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  Neither  was  the  title  on  this  clear, 
and  so  he  returned  to  Cook  County,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
Three  years  later  he  sold  it  at  an  advance  of  $500, 
after  which  he  came  to  Jasper  County  and  bought 
two  hundred  acres  in  North  Muddy  Township, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land  and 


552 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


forty  acres  of  timber.  This  he  still  owns,  in  con- 
nection with  eighty  acres  which  he  has  since  pur- 
chased. His  land  was  wild  prairie,  but  he  has 
transformed  it  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  In  ad- 
dition to  its  cultivation  he  also  raises  considerable 
stock,  including  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

In  1892,  Mr.  Hannaman  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  18th 
of  November,  aged  sixty-two  years  and  nine 
months.  She  was  a  member  of  the  German  Luther- 
an Church  and  a  lady  whose  many  excellencies  of 
character  won  her  high  regard.  Mr.  Hannaman  is 
also  a  member  of  the  same  church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  possesses  good  business 
ability,  and  in  the  pursuit  which  he  has  followed 
throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  gained  a  com- 
fortable competence,  which  numbers  him  among 
the  substantial  citizens. 


'ii    i  i    ®  j 


DEN  KNOPH,  President  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Olney  since  January,  1881, 
ft  and  a  resident  of  Richland  County  since 
1860,  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Lawrenceville,  Lawrence  Count3',  December  18, 
1843,  and  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  Thompson 
and  Lucinda  (Brunson)  Knoph.  His  parents,  are 
now  deceased.  His  father  was  born  in  Copen- 
hagen, Denmark,  on  the  day  that  Commodore  Nel- 
son bombarded  that  city.  When  twelve  years  of 
age  the  father  went  to  sea  as  cabin-boy,  and  as  he 
grew  to  manhood  worked  his  way  up  from  before 
the  mast  to  be  master  of  a  ship.  He  made  many 
long  voyages  to  foreign  lands,  and  more  than  once 
circumnavigated  the  globe.  About  1832  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  first  settling  in  Arkan- 
sas, from  where  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucinda  Brunson,  who  was 
born  in  that  State,  of  American  parentage  and  of 
English  descent. 

For  a  short  time  Mr.  Knoph  was  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Cincinnati,  and  later  removed 
to  Evansville,  Ind.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 


wholesale  grocery  trade.  In  1839  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  Lawrenceville.  Lawrence  Coun- 
ty, where  he  opened  a  general  store  and  also  en- 
gaged extensively  in  pork-packing.  In  1848  he 
removed  to  Grayville,  111.,  where,  in  1852,  he  met 
with  serious  financial  reverses  and  the  same  year 
returned  to  Lawrenceville.  lie  continued  in  that 
place  until  1859,  when  he  went  to  Vincennes,  Ind., 
and  in  1860  came  to  Olney,  where  he  resided  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  days.  His  death  occurred 
in  1867.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Aden  Knoph  lost  his  mother  at  his  birth  and  was 
reared  by  a  step-mother.  His  education  was  lim- 
ited to  that  secured  prior  to  his  ninth  year,  at 
which  time  he  went  to  work  in  his  father's  store 
and  learned  to  become  a  salesman.  He  continued 
with  his  father  until  November,  1863,  when  he  en- 
listed for  the  late  war  as  a  member  of  Company  G, 
Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry.  His 
regiment  at  first  was  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  but  later  became  a  part  of  the  famous 
"Wilder's  Brigade."  Soon  after  being  mustered 
in,  Mr.  Knoph  received  the  appointment  of  Ser- 
geant-Major of  the  regiment,  and  in  December, 

1864,  was  promoted  to  be  Adjutant.     On  the  2d  of 
April,  1865,  he  was  severely   wounded  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Selma,  Ala.,  by  a  gunshot  in  the  left  thigh. 
He  continued  in   the  service   until    mustered  out 
with  the   regiment    at    Nashville,   Tenn.,  in  June, 

1865.  During  his  service   he   was   with  his  regi- 
ment in   all  the  engagements  and    skirmishes    in 
which  it  took  part,  and    saw  much  active  service, 
and  participated   in    many   a   hard-fought  battle, 
where  it  lost  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Knoph  re- 
entered  his  father's  store  and  continued  with  him 
until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1867.  Owing  to 
the  unfortunate  condition  of  his  father's  affairs  at 
his  death,  our  subject  found  himself  with  the  care 
of  a  widowed  step-mother  and  her  children  de- 
volving upon  him,  but  this  chrage  he  faithfully 
executed.  For  a  time  he  was  employed  as  mer- 
chant's clerk,  and  also  engaged  in  the  study 
of  law.  In  the  year  1868  he  was  elected  on  the 
Republican  ticket  to  the  otlice  of  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  Richland  County  by  a  ma- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


553 


jority  of  sixty-five;  at  the  end  of  four  years' 
service  he  was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine,  running  twelve  hundred 
ahead  of  his  ticket,  and  again  for  a  third  term 
by  six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  majority,  serving 
in  all  twelve  years.  In  1878  he  was  the  Republi- 
can candidate  for  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  for 
the  Southern  Grand  Division.  The  district  was 
very  largely  Democratic,  and  while  defeated  for 
the  election  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  reduced  the  opposite  party's  majority 
about  five  thousand.  In  January,  1880,  he  re- 
signed his  position  as  Clerk  of  the  Court  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health  and  accepted  a  situation  as 
traveling  salesman  fora  wholesale  dry-goods  house 
of  Cincinnati,  lie  continued  on  the  road  until 
his  health  was  restored,  covering  a.  period  of  a 
year  and  a-half.  He  was  then,  in  January,  1882, 
without  his  knowledge,  elected  President  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Olney,  to  which  position 
he  has  been  re-elected  each  succeeding  election 
up  to  the  present  time, covering  a  period  of  eleven 
years. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1869,  Mr.  Knoph  was  mar- 
ried in  Olney  to  Miss  Carliette  Morehouse,  who 
was  born  in  Uichland  County,  111.,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  O.  B.  and  Mary  Morehouse.  Three  children 
were  born  of  their  union,  two  daughters  and  a  son: 
Ada,  Edward  and  Maude.  The  parents  are  both 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Knoph  possesses  superior  business  qualifica- 
tions and  good  executive  ability  and  is  identified 
with  prominent  business  interests.  He  helped  to 
organize  the  Olney  Electric  Light  Company 
in  1887,  and  was  its  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 
He  also  formed  the  Olney  Elevator  Company,  and 
built  the  Olney  Elevator,  one  of  the  most  complete 
in  its  appointments  in  southern  Illinois.  It  has  a 
storage  capacity  of  sixty  thousand  bushels  and  re- 
ceives and  ships  grain  from  and  by  all  the  rail- 
roads of  Olney.  Our  subject  is  now  its  sole  pro- 
prietor. 

Socially,  Mr.  Knoph  is  identified  with  several 
societies.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  bodies 
in  Olney  and  has  been  elected  to  the  Thirty-second 
degree,  but  has  not  yet  taken  it.  lie  holds  mem- 
pership  with  Olney  Lodge  No.  140,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 


Richland  Chapter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  Gorin  Com- 
mandery  No.  14,  K.  T.;  and  Salaam  Temple,  A.  A.  O. 
N.  M.  S.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Eli  Bowyer  Post 
No.  92,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Olney;  Olney  Lodge  No.  76, 
A.  O.  U.  W.;  Olney  Camp  No.  383,  M.  W  A.;  and 
Olney  Lodge  No.  95,  I.  O.  M.  A. 

Mr.  Knoph  is  a  recognized  leader  in  business 
circles  in  Richland  County.  He  is  enterprising, 
energetic  and  public-spirited.  His  reputation  as  a 
good  business  man  and  financier  is  second  to  none 
in  the  country,  and  his  integrity  is  above  question. 
Socially  he  is  a  favorite,  for  he  is  well  informed, 
genial  and  kind-hearted,  and  always  true  to  his 
friends.  His  official  career  was  distinguished  by 
industry,  ability  and  strict  fidelity  to  duty,  and 
his  long  continuance  in  the  important  office  of 
Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder  by  such  substantial 
majorities  is  the  best  possible  evidence  of  his  per- 
sonal popularity.  His  success  in  life  has  been  the 
result  of  his  own  unaided  efforts,  supported  by 
good  natural  ability,  indomitable  energy  and  up- 
rightness of  character. 


EV.  THEODORE  C.  COFFEY  is  pastor  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Ellingham.  In 
1891  he  received  a  call  from  this  church, 
which  he  accepted,  and  on  the  1st  of  June 
of  that  year  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  pas- 
torate, as  successor  to  Rev.  E.  Patton.  He  is  now 
in  his  second  year  at  this  place. 

Mr.  Coffey  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born 
near  Bloomington,  Monroe  County,  on  the  llth 
of  November,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Cornelius  and 
Margaret  Coffey.  The  early  education  of  our  sub- 
ject was  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  after  which 
he  was  a  student  in  the  seminary  of  Ladoga,  Ind., 
and  also  in  Shurtleff  College,  pursuing  a  four- 
\-ears  classical  and  three-years  theological  course 
in  the  latter  institution,  graduating  in  the  respec- 
tive classes  of  1871  and  1874.  He  was  now  fitted 
for  the  ministry  and  soon  afterward  entered  upon 
the  work  for  which  he  had  prepared  himself.  His 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


first  charge  was  in  Tuscola,  111.,  after  which  he  was 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Appleton,  Wis., 
for  two  years.  The  succeeding  nine  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  pastoral  work  in  Kansas,  after 
which  he  was  for  two  years  a  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Griggsville,  111.  As  before 
stated,  he  then  received  a  call  from  Efflngham  and 
came  to  this  place  on  the  1st  of  June,  1891. 

Mr.  Coffey  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Julia  A.  Vallette,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Their  union, 
which  was  celebrated  on  the  28th  of  January,  1875, 
took  place  in  Upper  Alton,  111.  Unto  them  have 
been  born  four  children,  who  are  yet  living:  Grace, 
Roy,  Maggie  and  Carrie.  They  also  lost  one  child, 
May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  a  year  and  a-half. 

Mr.  Coffey  is  a  scholarly  gentleman  and  in 
Eflingham  he  has  won  many  friends,  not  only 
among  his  own  people,  but  among  those  of  other 
denominations.  He  has  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  entire  community. 


yMLLIAM  HENRY  GILLESPIE  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  but  still  occupies  his  fine 
,,  w  farm  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  on 
section  29,  Claremount  Township.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Richland  County, 
where  since  the  winter  of  1836  he  has  made  his 
home.  He  has  watched  its  development,  has  seen 
its  wild  lands  transformed  into  beautiful  homes 
and  rich  farms,  has  seen  towns  and  villages  spring 
up,  and  all  modern  innovations  known  to  civiliza- 
tion introduced.  As  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  community  we  present  him  to  our  readers. 

Mr.  Gillespie  was  born  in  Vermilion  County,  111., 
June  7,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  Gillespie, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  grandfather,  James 
Gillespie,  was  a  native  of  the  same  State,  and  was 
a  Revolutionary  soldier.  The  former  was  reared 
in  Kentuckj',  and  there  married  one  of  its  daugh- 
ters, Sarah  Peebles.  After  following  farming  for 
a  few  years,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  western 
Indiana,  and  in  1836  came  to  Richland  County, 


locating  in  what  is  now  German  Township.  He 
first  purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  and  after  build- 
ing a  log  cabin,  fenced,  cleared  and  improved  the 
farm.  He  was  quite  successful  in  his  undertakings, 
and  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  good  land.  The  last  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  on  the  old  homestead, where  his  death  occurred 
in  the  spring  of  1865.  His  first  wife  having  died,  he 
was  a  second  time  married.  The  Gillespie  family 
numbered  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  six  are  3'et  living.  Mrs.  Telitlia 
Stultes  resides  in  Kansas;  Mrs.  Susan  Stultes  is  liv- 
ing in  German  Township,  Richland  County;  Mary 
is  the  wife  of  George  Holmes,  of  Douglas  County, 
Mo.;  Lewis  is  located  in  Olnej";  and  David  A.  is  a 
farmer  of  Claremont  Township. 

Our  subject  was  a  babe  of  six  months  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  boyhood 
was  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and 
his  education  has  been  mostly  acquired  through  his 
reading  and  business  experience  since  attaining  his 
majority,  yet  he  is  a  well-informed  man.  He  has 
been  twice  married.  In  January,  1858,  he  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Bird,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Bird,  who  in  an  early  day 
came  from  the  Buckeye  State  to  Claremont  Town- 
ship, Richland  County,  and  opened  up  a  farm,  on 
which  he  reared  his  family.  His  death  here  oc- 
curred in  1862. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Gillespie  bought  forty 
acres  of  land,  but  has  since  made  other  purchases, 
and  in  January,  1867,  removed  to  his  present  farm. 
There  were  only  a  few  acres  broken,  and  a  little 
cabin  constituted  the  improvements,  but  after  three 
years  Mr.  Gillespie  built  a  substantial  residence 
and  good  barns,  set  out  a  fine  orchard,  and  has 
made  other  excellent  improvements,  which  add 
greatly  to  the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of 
the  place.  He  has  also  made  additional  purchases 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  home  farm  now  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  highly  cultivated.  He 
also  owns  elsewhere  a  tract  of  eighty  acres. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Gillespie  joined 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  taken  sick  with  the  measles  soon  after  en- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


555 


tering  the  array,  but  on  his  recovery  rejoined  his 
regiment  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Mans- 
field, La.,  where  the  whole  regiment  was  captured 
and  taken  to  Camp  Ford,  near  Tyler,  Tex.,  where 
Mr.  Gillespie  was  held  a  prisoner  for  thirteen 
months  and  nineteen  days,  or  until  Ma}r,  1865. 
They  were  very  harshly  treated  and  nearly  starved, 
and  owing  to  those  facts  our  subject  was  ill  dur- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  imprisonment.  When 
released  he  went  to  New  Orleans,  then  to  St.  Louis, 
and  on  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  received  his 
discharge  in  June,  1865,  immediately  returning  to 
his  wife  and  family.  Since  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  he  has 
been  a  stalwart  Republican. 

Mr.  Gillespie  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which 
he  holds  office.  They  have  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: Rebecca  M.,  wife  of  Christian  Miller;  Mar- 
tha E.,  wife  of  William  P.  Ilillis;  and  Samuel  O., 
a  young  man  of  sterling  character,  who  operates  the 
home  farm.  All  reside  in  this  county. 

With  the  fidelity  with  which  he  served  his  coun- 
try in  the  dark  days  of  the  late  war,  Mr.  Gillespie 
discharges  his  duties  of  citizenship  and  also  every 
trust  reposed  in  him,  and  therefore  he  is  highly  es- 
teemed throughout  the  community.  He  began  life 
for  himself  a  poor  man,  but  his  labor  and  enter- 
prise have  accomplished  for  him  what  an  inherited 
fortune  has  not  always  done  for  others.  By  his 
well-directed  efforts  and  the  assistance  of  his  esti- 
mable wife  he  has  accumulated  two  valuable  farms 
and  a  good  home,  together  with  a  nice  property  in 
the  city  of  Olney,  and  is  to-day  accounted  one  of 
the  wealthy  and  substantial  citizens  of  Claremont 
Township. 


j^ESLEY  CONNER,  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  well-to-do  farmers  of  Crooked  Creek 
Township,  Jasper  County,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 31,  is  a  native  citizen  of  Illinois.  He  was 
born  in  Fayette  County,  May  7, 1840,  and  is  a  son 

2!) 


of  James  and  Emeline  (Huntley)  Conner,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Tennes- 
see. When  a  lad  of  eleven  years  the  father  came 
with  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Fayette 
County,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  married. 
There  he  also  made  a  claim  and  opened  up  a  farm, 
to  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  which  he 
devoted  his  energies  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  in  1878,  having  survived  his  wife 
several  years. 

Wesley  Conner  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
in  their  family  of  three  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  He  spent  his  youth 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  and  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  major- 
ity. His  educational  advantages  were  very  limited, 
but  by  experience,  observation  and  reading  in 
later  years,  he  has  made  himself  a  well-informed 
man. 

Mr.  Conner  has  been  twice  married.  In  his  na- 
tive county,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Bond,  who  was  also  born  in  Fayette 
County.  She  died  in  that  county  about  1870, 
leaving  two  children.  John  C.,  the  elder,  is  a  well- 
educated  man,  and  one  of  Jasper  County's  most 
successful  teachers.  He  also  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  in  Crooked  Creek  Township.  Clara  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Shepley,  a  farmer  of  Fayette 
County. 

The  second  marriage  of  our  subject  was  cele- 
brated in  Clark  County,  111.,  in  April,  1873,  when 
Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Philip  Clark,  became  his 
wife.  Three  children  grace  their  union,  as  follows: 
Rosella,  Philip  Oscar  and  Sophia. 

Some  time  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Conner  res'ided 
upon  the  old  homestead,  operating  a  portion  of  it 
until  after  his  father's  death.  He  then  purchased 
a  small  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Fayette  Count}'  until  1880,  when  he  sold  out 
and  came  to  Jasper  County.  Here  he  bought  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  Since  that  time  he 
has  built  a  neat  residence  and  a  good  barn  and 
made  other  improvements,  which  stand  as  monu- 
ments to  his  thrift  and  industry.  The  place  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  the  rich  and 
fertile  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  re- 
turn for  his  care  and  labor. 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  cause  of  education  finds  in  Mr.  Conner  a 
warm  friend,  and  all  worthy  enterprises  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  benefit  are  sure  to  receive  his 
warm  support.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860,  and  has  since 
been  an  advocate  of  the  Democracy.  He  has  led 
a  busy  and  useful  life,  and  by  his  well-directed  ef- 
forts, good  management  and  business  ability  has 
acquired  a  comfortable  competence.  He  is  fair 
and  upright  in  all  his  dealings  and  thereby  has 
gained  universal  confidence  and  esteem. 


jOHH  M.  RIFNER,  a  prominent  farmer  re- 
I  siding  on  section  34,  Decker  Township, 
Richland  County,  was  born  in  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  November  26,  1826,  and  is  a 
son  of  Peter  P.  Rifner,  who  went  to  the  Buckeye 
State  in  1811,  from  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J. 
The  following  year  he  became  a  soldier  of  the 
War  of  1812,  and  served  under  Gen.  William 
Henry  Harrison  against  the  Indians.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution.  When  he  entered  the  service  the 
family  was  broken  up  and  Peter  was  bound  out  at 
the  early  age  of  five  years.  He  was  twenty-two 
when  he  went  to  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred 
May  27,  1784.  In  the  midst  of  the  forest  he  de- 
veloped a  farm,  upon  which  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  died  June  6, 1864.  Mr.  Rifner 
was  a  successful  business  man  and  became  quite 
well-to-do.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  he 
nominated  Gen.  Harrison  for  the  first  office  the 
Tippecanoe  hero  ever  held.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  Rockafeller,  was 
born  in  Hunterdon  County,  N.  J.,  November  8, 
1789,  and  died  in  Harrison,  Ohio,  August  19, 1872, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

The  Rifner  family  numbered  seven  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Mary  A.,  born  November  7,  1807,  died 
August  14,  1839;  William  A.,  born  June  25,  1809, 
died  in  Henry  County,  Ind.,  in  1892;  Sarah  A., 
born  April  5,  1811,  died  July  4,  1836;  Samuel 


R.,  born  February  10,  1813,  also  died  in  Henry 
County;  Martha  R.,  born  February  11,  1815,  died 
in  Ohio  in  1818;  Eliza,  born  April  30,  1817,  died 
July  12,  1818;  Peter  P.,  born  October  1,  1819, 
died  in  Henry  County,  Ind.,  January  20,  1830: 
Henry,  born  March  3,  1822,  died  sixty-nine  years 
ago;  E.  A.,  born  August  8,  1824,  is  a  farmer  of 
Harrison,  Ohio;  J.  M.  is  our  subject;  Angeline, 
born  December  5,  1828,  is  the  wife  of  R.  T.  Calvin, 
of  Pulaski  County,  111.;  and  James  M.  is  a  mer- 
chant of  Hume,  Ind.  His  birth  occurred  August 
17,  1831. 

The  only  educational  privileges  our  subject  ob- 
tained were  those  afforded  by  the  subscription 
schools,  which  he  attended  about  three  months 
during  the  year.  The  remainder  of  the  time  was 
spent  in  farm  work.  He  early  learned  to  handle  the 
plow  and  scythe  and  could  cradle  four  and  one- 
fourth  acres  of  wheat  per  day.  At  the  age  of  twentv- 
two  he  left  home  and  wedded  Mary  Jane  Pierson, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Susan  Pierson.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  on  the  19th  of  May,  1850, 
and  on  the  26th  of  July  following,  the  young  wife 
died.  Mr.  Rifner  was  again  married,  March  18, 
1852,  his  second  union  being  with  Martha  A., 
daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Hollowell.  Her 
father  was  born  in  New  York,  June  14,  1805,  and 
died  in  Franklin  County,  Ind.,  in  August,  1885. 
Her  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky,  January  26, 
1808,  and  is  still  living,  now  eighty-five  years  old. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Ephraim,  born 
June  1,  1831;  Martha  A.,  born  in  Franklin  Count_v, 
Ind.,  December  25,  1833;  Louden  T.,  born  July 
27,  1837;  Hannah  Jane,  February  17,  1840;  Mary 
Eleanor,  February  14,  1842;  Leander,  November 
12,  1843;  Margaret  Ann,  August  21,  1848;  and 
Charles  O.,  November  10,  1851. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rifner  are  Sylves- 
ter Emerson,  who  was  born  January  23,  1854,  in 
Franklin  County,  Ind.,  and  died  April  4,  1887. 
He  was  married  January  31, 1885,  to  Fannie  Bowers. 
Mary  Jane,  born  April  28,  1856,  became  the  wife 
of  W.  M.  Taylor,  October  22,  1876,  and  died  Oc- 
tober 17,  1881,  leaving  two  children,  Lulu  Edith 
and  William  M;  Rose  Ella,  born  September  23, 
1861,  became  the  wife  of  William  M.  Taylor,  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1883;  Ida  Alice,  born  March  22,  1863, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


557 


was  married  March  30,  1893,  to  George  C.  Stokes, 
a  farmer  of  Franklin  County.  Ind.;  Jesse,  born 
June  21,  1866,  died  on  the  16th  of  September 
following. 

For  some  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Rifner 
followed  farming  in  the  county  of  his  nativity 
arid  then  removed  to  Henry  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  1872.  That  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Richland  County.  He  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land,  to  which 
he  has  since  added  ten  acres,  and  he  now  has  a 
highly  improved  farm,  which  is  well  cultivated  and 
has  upon  it  a  good  orchard.  Mr.  Rifner  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
to  the  support  of  which  he  contributes  liberally. 
He  has  always  given  freely  of  his  means  to  any 
worthy  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.  He  has  never  been  an  officer-seeker  but 
has  served  as  School  Director.  He  cast  his  first 
vote  for  the  Whig  candidate  in  1848,  and  since 
voting  for  Lincoln  in  1860  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party.  The  success  which 
Mr.  Rifner  has  attained  in  his  business  life  is  one 
of  which  he  may  justly  be  proud,  for  in  the  legiti- 
mate channels  of  business  and  through  his  enter- 
prise and  good  management  he  has  gained  his  com- 
fortable competence. 


JACOB  SOTZEN,  one  of  the  progressive  and 
enterprising  farmers  of   Richland  County, 
i    residing  on  section  1 1,  Madison  Township,  is 
a  native  of  Switzerland.     He  was  born  near 
the  town  of  Sissel,  in  the  canton  of  Basel,  April  15, 
1823,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Emhof) 
Sotzen.     The  father   was  a    tailor  by  trade,  and 
followed  that  business  for  a  number  of  years,  but 
later  in    life   he  engaged  in    farming.     His  three 
children  are  all  now  living  in  America.     Elizabeth, 
the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  J.  Sutler,  of  New  Wash- 
ington, Ohio.     Jacob   is    the   second   in  order  of 
birth;  and  Henry  is  now  a  merchant  tailor  of  Shel- 
by, Ohio. 


Jacob  Sotzen,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  ac- 
quired a  good  education  in  the  common  schools, 
and  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm, 
no  event  of  special  importance  occurring  during 
that  time.  On  attaining  to  man's  estate,  he  left 
the  parental  roof  for  America.  He  had  resolved 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World,  and  taking 
passage  on  a  sailing-vessel  at  Havre,  France,  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  New  York,  where  he 
arrived  after  a  voyage  of  thirty-six  days.  During 
the  passage  the  vessel  encountered  a  severe  storm, 
which  lasted  about  forty-eight  hours  and  nearly 
caused  a  shipwreck.  From  New  York  City,  Mr. 
Sotzen  made  his  way  to  Shelby,  Ohio,  by  way  of 
Albany,  Buffalo  and  Huron,  and  there  remained 
until  the  autumn  of  1845,  when  he  came  to  Rich- 
land  County,  111.  He  drove  a  team  to  this  place, 
bringing  a  load  of  goods  for  a  neighbor. 

Soon  after  his  arrival,  Mr.  Sotzen  entered 
eighty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  resides  and 
traded  his  wagon  for  forty  acres  additional.  It 
was  all  wild  prailie,  upon  which  not  a  furrow  had 
been  turned  or  an  improvement  made,  but  he  at 
once  began  its  development  and  as  rapidly  as  his 
means  would  allow  he  made  improvements  upon 
the  place.  His  first  home  was  a  small  log  cabin, 
but  about  1871  it  was  replaced  by  his  present  sub- 
stantial residence,  a  very  neat  and  comfortable 
dwelling.  A  good  barn  was  built  in  1853,  and 
additions  have  been  made  to  it  from  time  to  time, 
until  it  is  now  a  large  structure,  50x62  feet. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1849  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  Ellingsworth, 
of  Olney,  who  was  born  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 
They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children:  Sarah, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  H.,  who  keeps 
an  apartment  house  in  Tacoma,  Wash.;  John,  now 
an  engineer  of  New  Harmony,  Ind.;  Miles,  a 
farmer  of  Missouri;  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
nine  years;  George,  who  is  keeping  a  boarding- 
house  in  Elm,  Wash.;  Franklin,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Richland  County;and  Lillie  B.,  wife  of  J.  Hop- 
per, of  Browns,  111. 

On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Sotzen  identified 
himself  with  the  Whig  party,  and  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Zachary  Taylor,  but  on  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  he  joined 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD. 


its  ranks,  and  has  since  been  one  of  its  support- 
ers. For  six  years  be  acceptably  filled  the  of- 
fice of  Highway  Commissioner,  and  he  has  held 
other  local  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  ever 
discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity.  Himself 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected  many 
years.  Mr.  Sotzen  has  led  an  honorable,  upright 
life,  one  well  worthy  of  emulation,  and  he  has 
therefore  gained  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom 
business  or  social  interests  have  brought  him  in 
contact. 


t  LVIN  ECKLEY,  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  late  war,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
on  section  14,  Madison  Township,  was 
born  in  this  locality,  January  25,  1841, 
and  therefore  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
Richland  County.  His  parents  were  Dr.  Daniel 
and  Jerusha  (Hayes)  Eckley,  honored  pioneers  of 
this  community.  Peter  Eckley,  the  great-grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject,  was  a  Scotch-Irishman.  He 
came  to  America  with  his  brother  George  about 
1750.  They  settled  in  Berks  County,  Pa.,  and  as 
scouts  took  part  in  Gen.  Braddock's  expedition 
against  Ft.  Du  Quesue,  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War.  George  Eckley  was  there  killed,  but  Peter 
survived  and  served  as  a  scout  during  the  Revo- 
lution. After  the  Colonies  had  achieved  their 
independence,  he  removed  to  Westmoreland  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed. 
Ephraim  Eckley,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
emigrated  Westward  about  1800,  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio. 
Later  he  went  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1848  came'  to  Richland  County,  111.,  where  his 
days  were  ended. 

Dr.  Eekley  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio, 
and  in  1839  he  came  with  his  family  to  this 
county.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
the  medical  profession,  which  he  followed  contin- 
uously until  1873.  Since  that  time  he  has  lived  a 


retired  life,  and  has  now  reached  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-five  years.  His  wife  died  in  Min- 
erva, Ohio,  in  1876.  The  Doctor  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Richland  County,  and  has  been 
an  eye-witness  of  its  entire  growth  and  upbuild- 
ing. He  gained  quite  a  reputation  during  his 
business  career,  and  had  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice. 

Alvin  Eckley,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  with  his 
parents,  aiding  in  the  cultivation  of  the  farm,  and 
attending  the  subscription  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. After  attaining  his  majorit3',  he  supple- 
mented his  primary  education  by  a  course  in  the 
Christian  College,  of  Merom,  Ind.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  he  re- 
sponded to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  and  en- 
listed July  20,  1861.  He  was  assigned  to  Com- 
pany E,  Eleventh  Missouri  Infantry, and  took  part 
in  the  engagement  at  New  Madrid,  the  siege  of 
Island  No.  10,  the  advance  on  Corinth  and  the 
siege  of  that  city,  luka  and  the  second  battle  of 
Corinth.  There,  on  the  3d  of  October,  1862,  he 
was  wounded  in  the  right  leg,  and  lay  in  the  hos- 
pital until  discharged  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863. 
When  he  had  sufficiently  recovered,  Mr.  Eckley 
rejoined  his  regiment  in  December,  1863,  and  with 
it  remained  until  the  following  spring. 

After  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Eckley  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  about  a  year,  and  then  se- 
cured a  position  as  salesman  in  a  general  mercan- 
tile store  of  Parkersburg,  where  he  was  employed 
for  nine  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
he  resumed  farming,  which  he  has  followed  almost 
continuously  since.  He  now  owns  and  operat 
eighty  acres  of  good  land  on  section  14,  Madisor 
Township. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  1874,  Mr.  Eckley  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Hannah  R.Morrison, 
daughter  of  John  Heap,  one  of  the  pioneer  settler 
of  Richland  County.  They  have  but  one  living 
child,  Daniel  J.,  having  lost  two  children  in  in- 
fancy. Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  well  known 
in  the  community  where  they  have  so  long  made 
their  home,  and  in  social  circles  they  hold  an  en- 
viable position.  Mr.  Eckley  exercises  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559 


by  his  fellow-townsmen  has  been  called  upon  to  fill 
several  public  ollices,  the  duties  of  which  he  has 
discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity.  He  lias 
filled  various  local  ollices.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ed  Kitchcll  Post  No.  662,  G.  A.  R.  The 
community  recognizes  in  him  a  public-spirited  and 
valued  citizen. 


ill 


OHN  M.  PARRENT,  who  follows  farming 
on  section  29,  Wade  Township,  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  honored  pioneer 
families  of  Jasper  County.  He  was  born  in 
Tippecanoe  Count}',  Ind.,  January  22,  1840,  and 
the  following  May  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his 
parents,  David  and  Emily  C.  (Parker)  Parrent. 
The  father  was  born  in  Illinois,  but  at  an  early 
day  went  to  the  Iloosier  State.  The  mother  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Parker.  On  coining  to  Jasper  County,  Mr.  Par- 
rent  entered  land  and  located  where  our  subject 
now  resides.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  community,  and  the  family  were  forced  to  en- 
dure all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  frontier 
life.  The  father  cleared  his  land  and  made  a  good 
farm,  upon  which  he  lived  until  called  to  the  home 
beyond  in  1858.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a 
number  of  years  and  departed  this  life  in  1870. 

The  Parrent  family  numbered  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters,  who  grew  to  mature 
years,  but  only  four  arc  now  living.  The  eldest. 
Maria  M.,  is  the  wife  of  John  Flint,  and  she  and 
her  sister,  Mrs.  Emily  J.  Hastings,  both  reside  in 
Lawrence  County,  Ohio.  The  brother  of  our  sub- 
ject, William  II.,  is  a  well-known  farmer  of  Wade 
Township,  Jasper  County. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, John  M.  Parrent,  who  has  spent  nearly  his 
entire  life  in  this  county.  The  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  were  spent  upon  the  farm  which 
is  still  his  home.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  after  his  father's  death,  when  he  took  charge 


of  the  farm  and  later  succeeded  to  the  ownership 
of  the  old  homestead.  He  thoroughly  understands 
his  business  in  all  its  details,  and  is  a  practical  and 
progressive  agriculturist.  He  has  since  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  additional,  and  now  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
whose  well-tilled  fields,  many  improvements  and 
neat  appearance  indicate  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 

Mr.  Parrent  was  joined  in  wedlock  in  Jasper 
County,  December  28,  1864,  with  Rachel  J.  Parker, 
wlio  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  111.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  James  Parker.  Six  children  grace 
their  union.  Marion  A.,  Columbus  and  Leander 
aid  their  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
farm;  Melinda  Eveline,  Mary  A.  and  Clara  Emma 
are  the  daughters  of  the  household.  They  have 
also  lost  three  children,  who  died  in  infancy  or 
early  childhood. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Parrent  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  having  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  that  party  since  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  arc  people  whose  excellencies  of  character 
have  won  them  high  regard.  Their  home  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality,  and  their  many  friends  and 
acquaintances  are  always  sure  of  receiving  there  a 
cordial  welcome.  Thus  have  we  given  a  sketch  of 
the  life  of  one  of  Jasper  County's  honored  pio- 
neers, who  for  more  than  half  a  century  has  been 
identified  with  its  history  and  its  upbuilding. 


LISHAMA  BEATY,  a  prominent  farmer  re- 
siding on  section  25,  Decker  Township, 
Richland  County,  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Va.,  October  5,  1840,  and  comes  of  an  old 
family  in  that  State.  His  grandfather,  Alexander 
Beaty,  Sr.,  was  born  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  in 
an  early  day  accompanied  his  widowed  mother  to 
America,  but  after  a  short  time  they  returned  to 
Ireland.  When  he  had  attained  his  majority,  Mr. 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Beaty  again  crossed  the  Atlantic,  locating  in  Mar- 
ion County,  Va.,  where  his  grandson,  Newton 
Bcaly,  still  lives.  Throughout  his  life  he  followed 
farming. 

Alexander  Beaty,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  became  a  farmer  of 
West  Virginia.  He  was  also  a  local  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  twenty-five 
years.  He  married  Elizabeth  Metis,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Metz.  Both  were  natives  of  what  is  now 
West  Virginia.  When  a  boy  her  father  often  had 
to  go  to  the  fort  at  Morganstown,  in  order  to  es- 
cape from  the  Indians,  who  threatened  his  life. 
In  his  earlier  years  he  was  a  great  hunter,  and  at 
one  time  had  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  with  a 
bear,  during  which  he  was  bitten  on  the  leg,  but 
he  at  length  managed  to  dispatch  the  animal  with 
his  tomahawk.  His  home  was  in  what  is  now 
Marion  County,  W.  Va. 

Alexander  Beaty  possessed  several  peculiarities 
of  habit.  He  always  observed  the  quarterly  fast 
of  the  Methodist  Church  by  entirely  abstain- 
ing from  food  until  the  noon  hour.  He  would 
never  shave  on  Sunday.  During  his  minority, 
our  subject  never  knew  him  to  do  so  except  twice, 
when  he  did  not  arrive  at  home  until  after  mid- 
night. He  followed  farming  throughout  much  of 
his  life,  and  also  dealt  in  stock,  shipping  hogs, 
cattle  and  sheep  to  Baltimore.  In  the  early  days 
he  had  to  drive  these  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  to  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  then  ship  them  by 
rail.  In  the  spring  of  1848  he  removed  to  Wirt 
County,  W.  Va.,  where  he  bought  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  and  then  purchased  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  additional,  for  which  he 
went  in  debt.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  took 
an  active  part  in  raising  recruits  for  the  Union 
service,  but  he  did  not  go  to  the  front  himself,  on 
account  of  his  age.  Living  in  a  rebel  neighbor- 
hood, his  enemies  were  almost  constantly  on  the 
watch  for  him  to  take  his  life  for  two  years.  At 
length,  on  July  25,  1862,  they  shot  him,  while  he 
was  on  his  way  to  a  field  to  mow.  The  wound  re- 
sulted in  his  death  August  11.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  1871,  when,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years, 
she  also  passed  away.  In  their  family  were  twelve 
children,  namely:  Emeline,  Melissa  J.,  Cyrus,  El- 


ishama,  Aaron  G.,  Mary  C.,  Irene,  James  B.,  Sarah 
E.,  Alexander  E.,  Tennessee  and  Beverly  W.  Cy- 
rus and  Aaron  G.  died  when  young.  James  B. 
grew  to  manhood,  married,  and  died  in  1878,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  ten  children.  The  others  are  all 
living  and  are  married. 

When  a  lad  of  eight  years,  our  subject  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Burning  Springs,  W.  Va.,  and 
remained  on  the  old  home  farm  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  One  winter,  about  that  time, 
when  his  father  was  obliged  to  be  away,  he  cut 
all  the  firewood  for  the  family  and  drove  a  three- 
horse  team  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles. 
His  early  education,  acquired  in  the  common 
schools,  was  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  col- 
lege at  Meadville,  Pa.,  but  he  did  not  complete  his 
studies,  being  called  home  at  the  time  of  his  fath- 
er's death. 

Ere  Mr.  Beaty's  death,  he  made  a  will,  placing 
his  property  in  the  hands  of  his  son  Elishama, 
who  was  to  manage  the  estate  as  he  pleased  during 
the  minority  of  the  children, and  then  to  sell  it  and 
divide  the  proceeds  equally.  For  his  services  he 
was  to  receive  $200  per  year.  Through  security 
debts  and  unfortunate  speculations  in  oil,  the 
property  had  been  reduced  to  about  $3,000,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1864  real  estate  rose  in  value  and  he  at 
length  sold  the  property  for  $30,775,  and  each  of 
the  ten  children  received  about  $2,000,  after  all 
expenses  and  the  cost  of  educating  the  family  were 
deducted.  After  selling  out,  the  family  went  to 
Jackson  County,  W.  Va.  Our  subject  then  bought 
a  farm  worth  $17,800,  invested  some  money  in  a 
steamboat  and  traded  for  land,  but  in  securing 
the  title  of  the  same  he  became  involved  in  a  law 
suit  which  continued  for  fourteen  years.  Finally, 
however,  he  won  the  case. 

Mr.  Beaty  was  married  September  4,  1867, 
Miss  Ella  Blake,  daughter  of  James  and  Maria 
(Jackson)  Blake,  natives  of  Virginia.  They  had 
three  children:  Maria  E.;  Mary  Tennessee,  who 
died  in  infancy;  and  Nellie  Madge.  They  made 
their  home  in  Jackson  County  until  1889,  when 
they  came  to  Richland  County.  Mr.  Beaty  here 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  four  mile 
southwest  of  Noble,  where  he  still  makes  his  home. 
He  bii3-s  and  sells  stock  on  a  large  scale  and  is  also 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


extensively  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  just 
completed  one  of  the  largest  barns  in  the  count}', 
and  has  other  fine  improvements  upon  his  place. 
He  is  now  erecting  a  commodious  and  pleasant 
residence. 

Our  subject  has  taken  a  very  prominent  part  in 
political  affairs  and  belonged  to  the  Count}1  or 
Township  Commitee  for  twenty-four  years.  He 
is  now  President  of  the  Republican  League  Club 
of  Decker  Township,  a  perpetual  organization. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Noble  Lodge  No.  362, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  Noble  Camp  No.  1281,  M.  W. 
A.  Himself  and  wife  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Noble,  in  which 
he  serves  as  Class-leader.  Mr.  Beaty  has  led  a  busy 
and  useful  life.  He  is  always  found  on  the  right 
side,  and  his  honorable  and  upright  career  has 
gained  for  him  the  universal  confidence  and  the 
warm  regard  of  all  with  whom  business  or  pleasure 
has  brought  him  in  contact. 


N  APOLEON  L.  MrCAULEY,  who  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock-raising  on 
5  section  29,  Decker  Township,  Richland 
County,  claims  Kentucky  as  the  State  of  his  na- 
tivity. He  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  near 
Louisville,  on  the  26th  of  October,  1833,  and  is  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  A.  MeCauley,  who  are 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  When  about 
three  years  old,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Rich- 
land  County,  and  under  the  parental  roof  he  re- 
mained until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  The 
subscription  schools  afforded  him  his  educational 
advantages. 

December  27,  1857,  Mr.  MeCauley  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Rusk,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Cassander  Rusk,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Indiana.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm,  and  there  continued  to  reside  until 
after  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when  Mr. 
MeCauley  joined  the  boys  in  blue.  On  the  llth 
of  August,  1862,  he  became  a  member  of  Company 


H,  Ninety-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  af- 
terward mounted,  and  served  until  February  13, 
1863,  when  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  dis- 
ability. 

On  his  return  to  the  North,  our  subject  resumed 
farming,  but  after  a  few  months  removed  to  Noble, 
where  he  embarked  in  general  merchandising,  to 
which  enterprise  he  devoted  his  time  and  atten- 
tion for  a  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
he  sold  his  store  and  began  operating  a  sawmill, 
three  miles  from  Noble.  This  business  he  followed 
for  about  ten  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  returned 
to  farming.  In  connection  with  the  raising  of 
grain,  he  has  also  dealt  in  live-stock  quite  exten- 
sively, doing  a  good  business  in  this  line.  His 
farm  comprises  one  hundred  acres  of  good  land, 
well  cultivated  and  improved  and  pleasantly  situ- 
ated about  three  miles  from  Noble. 

Mr.  MeCauley  holds  membership  with  Noble 
Lodge  No.  482, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  with  Noble  Post 
No.  252,  G.  A.  R.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, having  warmly  advocated  the  principles 
of  that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  in  1856.  An  honored 
pioneer  of  Richland  County,  he  has  here  made  his 
home  for  the  Ipng  period  of  fifty-seven  j'ears,  and 
has  therefore  been  a  witness  of  almost  its  entire 
growth  and  development.  The  MeCauley  family 
have  always  been  idenified  with  the  best  interests 
of  the  community  and  have  never  failed  to  respond 
to  any  call  for  aid,  when  the  object  of  the  enter- 
prise was  to  promote  public  welfare. 


LOUIS  ODER,  dealer  in  live-stock  of  No- 
ble,  111.,  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  on 
the  27th  of  July,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  A.  and  Johanna  (Kover)  Oder, 
who  are  also  natives  of  the  Fatherland.  They  are 
farming  people  of  Germany  and  are  well-to-do. 
The  grandfather,  Gottleib  Oder,  was  '  a  wealthy 
farmer  of  the  same  locality,  and  in  his  younger 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


days  was  one  of  Napoleon's  noble  veterans,  serv- 
ing as  a  soldier  for  many  years  in  Spain,  Russia 
and  at  Waterloo.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty.  Frederick  Oder  also  belonged  to 
the  regular  army  in  Germany  for  a  number  of 
years.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  have  reached  the  ages  of  seventy- 
five  and  seventy  years,  respectively.  Four  chil- 
dren were  born  .  unto  them,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Christina,  Carl  Hermann,  A.  Louis  and 
Selma.  With  the  exception  of  our  subject,  all  are 
still  living  in  Germany. 

Mr.  Oder  whose  name  heads  this  record  was 
reared  on  the  old  home  farm  in  his  native  land,  and 
after  attending  the  common  schools  became  a  stu- 
dent in  Halle  College  and  Leipsic  University,  from 
which  latter  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1864. 
He  then  extensively  engaged  in  farming  in  Ger- 
many until  1869,  when  he  bade  adieu  to  home  and 
friends  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  The 
first  year  after  his  arrival  was  spent  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  and  in  1870  he  removed  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  lived  for  about  eighteen  months.  He 
then  removed  to  Clay  City  and  bought  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  four  miles  from  that 
place,  which  he  still  owns.  It  was  partly  improved, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  added  much  to  its 
value  and  attractive  appearance  by  additional  im- 
provements. His  farm  is  principally  used  for  graz- 
ing. Mr.  Oder  is  one  of  the  best-known  stock- 
dealers  in  this  part  of  the  State,  and  has  now  car- 
ried on  business  in  Noble  for  twenty  .years  and  has 
a  large  trade. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1868,  Mr.  Oder  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline,  daughter 
of  Carl  and  Henrietta  (Fischer)  Fcltweg,  natives 
of  Germany.  Five  children  have  been  born  unto 
them:  Selma,  wife  of  Delbert  Holman,  a  resident 
of  Pauline,  Iowa;  Carl,  Nettie,  Clara  and  Albert 
L.  The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and  are  well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected people  of  this  community.  In  1874,  Mr. 
Oder  returned  to  his  native  land  to  visit  the 
friends  and  kindred  of  his  youth.  The  trip  proved 
an  enjoyable  one,  but  he  would  not  again  take  up 


his  residence  in  the  Fatherland.  He  loves  his 
adopted  country,  and  it  has  furnished  to  him  as 
the  result  of  his  well-directed  efforts  and  good 
management  a  comfortable  home  and  good  prop- 
erty. 


V'  P'  PAULUS  TEROERDE,  O.  S.  F., 
guardian  of  St.  Francis'  Convent  and  Rector 
cli'\\  of  St.  Francis'  Church,  of  Teutopolis,  was 
\^  born-  in  the  village  of  Dingden,  Province 
of  Westphalia,  Prussia,  January  27,  1849.  He  be- 
gan his  education  in  his  native  city,  and  after  his 
first  communion  he  attended  the  gymnasium  in 
Bocholt.  Subsequently  he  pursued  his  studies  in 
Munster  and  Coessfeld.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
years  he  joined  the  Order  of  St.  Francis.  Having 
finished  his  novitiate  in  1870,  he  removed  to 
Wiedenbruck,  and  soon  after  to  Dusseldrof,  at 
which  places  he  studied  philosophy,  and  on  the 
completion  of  his  course  in  that  science  he  re- 
'turned  to  Paderborn,  where  ho  spent  two  years  in 
theological  study.  At  tins  time  the  Franciscans 
being  expelled  from  Germany,  the  Reverend  Father 
went  to  the  seat  of  the  Franco-Prussian  War, 
which  had  just  then  broken  out.  During  the  early 
part  of  this  war  he  followed  the  contending  armies, 
bearing  Christian  succor  to  the  sick  and  suffering 
and  to  the  dying,  but  on  account  of  sickness  he 
was  forced  to  relinquish  this  hazardous  task. 

In  March,  1875,  he  was  ordained  to  the  priest- 
hood at  Cologne,  and  in  July  following  emigrated 
to  America  in  company  with  many  fathers  and 
students  of  his  order.  He  repaired  at  once  to  the 
convent  in  Teutopolis,  but  remained  there  only  a 
few  days,  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  theological  studies  in  the  convent  of  the 
order.  After  taking  a  course  of  a  year  and  a-half 's 
duration,  he  returned  to  Teutopolis  to  attend  a 
mission.  He  then  attended  different  congrega- 
tions until  1881,  when  he  was  made  rector  of  St. 
Francis'  Church  in  Teutopolis.  He  held  that  posi- 
tion until  January  31,  1887,  when  he  was  sent  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


563 


St.  Ix>uis,  where  he  was  employed  until  July,  1888. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  was  recalled 
as  rector  of  the  congregation  in  Teutopolis,  and 
has  since  filled  that  position,  having  the  supervis- 
ion of  a  large  convent  of  an  important  congrega- 
tion and  the  education  of  many  children.  He  has 
proved  himself  fully  equal  to  the  task,  and  the 
general  prosperity  and  progress  of  all  the  institu- 
tions in  his  care  speak  volumes  in  praise  of  his 
ability,  industry  and  fidelity. 


OL.  W.  E.  ALCORN,  an  honored  veteran 
of  the  late  war,  now  residing  in  Olney,  was 
born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  April  17, 1817,  and 
is  a  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Carnahan)  Alcorn. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Baltimore,  but  his  father 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  at  the  age  of  two 
years  was  brought  to  this  country.  His  mother 
died  about  two  years  later  in  Wiscasset,  Me.  When 
about  five  years  old,  James  Alcoru  bound  himself 
out  to  a  sea-captain  for  six  years.  He  was  in  the 
United  States  navy  for  thirty-two  years,  and  then, 
because  he  was  not  a  Democrat,  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  navy-yard  by  Gen.  Jackson  with  two 
hundred  and  fifty  others,  among  them  young 
John  Randolph,  who  was  a  lieutenant.  James  Al- 
corn was  a  very  prominent  man,  and  in  company 
with  his  father,  Col.  Alcorn,  saw  many  of  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  nation. 

The  father  of  our  subject  sunk  the  ships  across 
Baltimore  Harbor  to  keep  out  the  British  in  the 
War  of  1812.  The  Colonel  saw  Gen.  La  Fayette 
in  Baltimore  in  the  year  1824.  He  was  taken  by 
his  father  to  Washington  in  1825  to  see  John 
IJuincy  Adams  inaugurated  President.  He  also 
saw  that  illustrious  man  lay  the  corner-stone  of 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad.  On  the  4th  of 
March,  1829,  he  saw  Gen.  Jackson  inaugurated, 
and  about  six  weeks  later  saw  him  break  dirt  for 
the  Ohio  &  Chesapeake  Canal,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C. 
On  the  26th  of  April,  1831,  he  saw  young  John 
Randolph,  of  Virginia,  who  was  turned  out  of  the 


navy-yard  in  which  he  was  a  lieutenant  at  the 
same  time  as  our  subject's  father.  At  that  time 
young  Randolph  wrung  Gen.  Jackson's  nose.  They 
then  drove  everybody  off  the  "Sidney,"  which  was 
a  mailboat  carrying  mail  from  Washington  City 
to  Potomac  Creek,  and  Randolph  went  onto  the 
wharf,  pulled  two  pistols  from  his  pocket  and  chal- 
lenged any  of  Jackson's  friends  to  fight  a  duel 
with  him.  Mr.  Alcorn 's  father,  who  was  present, 
called  out  three  cheers  for  John  Randolph.  The 
duel,  however,  was  not  fought. 

After  James  Alcorn  left  the  navy  he  followed 
the  sea  for  some  time.  In  his  family  were  six 
children:  James,  George,  William  E.,  Margaret, 
Laura  and  Cordelia.  George  went  to  sea  on  a 
whaling-vessel  and  was  never  heard  of  afterward. 
James  went  out  in  a  sloop  of  war,  the  "  Hornet," 
commanded  by  Capt.  Claxton,  and  was  gone  three 
years.  After  his  return  he  entered  the  merchant 
service. 

Col.  Alcorn  has  also  spent  much  of  his  life  in 
naval  service.  For  eighteen  years  he  followed  the 
sea.  In  1837  he  shipped  on  the  vessel, "Eagle,"  of 
Boston,  and  went  to  Amsterdam.  After  eighteen 
years  spent  on  the  high  seas,  he  was  on  our  south- 
ern and  western  rivers  for  twenty  years.  In  1836. 
when  Texas  had  trouble  with  Santa  Anna,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Texan  navy,  and  was  in  the 
battle  of  San  Jacinto,  above  Lynchburg.  In  1846 
Col.  Alcorn  fitted  up  a  new  vessel,  built  at  Cin- 
cinnati, called  the  "Ann  Chase,"  to  be  used  by 
the  United  States  troops  in  the  Mexican  War. 
This  was  loaded  at  Cincinnati  with  wagons,  Gov- 
ernment stores,  etc.,  and  floated  down  the  river  to 
New  Orleans,  where  the  cargo  was  disposed  of,  and 
another  cargo  of  wagons  and  ammunition  of  war 
was  taken  on.  While  at  New  Orleans  pay-day 
came  and  Mr.  Alcom  received  his  pay  for  the  past 
seven  months.  With  some  of  the  crew  he  then 
started  with  the  ship  for  Brazos,  Santiago,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine 
River  the  vessel  blew  up.  The  captain,  who  had 
been  placed  in  charge  just  as  she  was  ready  to  sail 
and  who  knew  nothing  about  steamers,  asked  Mr. 
Alcorn  what  to  do.  On  the  suggestion  of  our 
subject  the  anchor  was  dropped  and  the  wreck 
cleared  away.  About  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 


564 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


they  lowered  a  boat,  put  four  men  into  it,  and  the 
Captain  and  Mr.  Alcoru  went  ashore.  Writing  a 
letter  to  the  authorities  at  New  Orleans,  they 
stated  that  the  boat  had  blown  up  and  asked  for  a 
tug  to  tow  them  into  Galveston.  Their  request 
was  granted,  and  after  repairing  the  boiler  at  Gal- 
veston, they  again  loaded  and  once  more  started 
to  Brazos.  At  length  they  reached  their  destina- 
tion, disposed  of  their  cargo,  took  aboard  another, 
and  a  month  later  started  back  for  New  Orleans, 
but  the  second  night  out  the  boat  went  ashore  in 
a  gale,  and  so  complete  was  the  wreck  that  she  was 
never  again  fit  for  service. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1846,  Col.  Alcorn  mar- 
ried Miss  Ann  M.,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann 
Rowe,  of  Indiana.  Six  children  were  born  unto 
them:  John,  Orlando,  William  Edward,  Maggie, 
Cordelia  and  James,  but  the  last-named  is  the  only 
one  now  living.  The  mother  died  in  June,  1862, 
and  after  her  death  Col.  Alcorn  wedded  Mary 
Jane  Vandolah.  They  became  the  parents  of  eleven 
children.  George,  a  resident  of  Columbia,  Tenn., 
married  Myrtle  Chauncy,  and  they  have  a  daugh- 
ter, Marguerite;  Philip  married  Anna  Notstein, 
and  resides  in  Olney;  Ulysses  Grant  married  Etta 
Harris,  and  lives  in  Olney.  The  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  Anna  M.,  Henry  Clay,  Laura 
E.,  Clara  F.,  Ethel  V.,  Bessie  and  Mary,  are  at 
home.  John  died  in  infancy. 

Col.  Alcorn  entered  the  service  of  his  country 
during  the  late  war,  enlisting  in  1863  in  the  Two 
Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Ohio  Infantry.  After 
the  war  he  came  to  Olney  and  purchased  a  farm  of 
eight  hundred  and  fifty  acres  north  of  Noble.  A 
part  of  this  lie  has  since  traded  for  sixteen  houses 
and  lots  in  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  but  he 
still  retains  the  ownership  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  For  some  time  he  made  his  home 
in  Noble.  It  was  in  1879  that,  having  built  his 
present  residence  in  Olney,  he  removed  to  this 
city,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  Himself 
and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  he  belongs  to  Bowyer  Post  No. 
92,  G.  A.  R. 

In  politics,  Col.  Alcorn  is  a  stancli  Republican. 
In  1836  he  voted  for  William  Henry  Harrison  in 
New  York  City.  In  1840  he  and  a  party  went 


down  the  river  on  a  steamer,  and  Ian  ding  at  Ports- 
mouth, Ohio,  he  again  supported  the  Tippecanoe 
hero.  In  1844,  in  Mobile,  Ala.,  he  voted  for 
Henry  Clay.  In  1848,  in  Cincinnati,  lie  supported 
Zachary  Taylor.  As  he  was  in  California  in  1852, 
he  lost  his  vote  but  in  1856  he  supported  Millard 
Fillmore.  In  1860  and  1864,  he  cast  his  ballot  for 
Lincoln,  and  in  1868  and  1872  for  Gen.  Grant. 
In  1876  he  supported  Hayes,  in  1880  Garfield,  in 
1884  Blaine,  and  in  1888  and  1892  Benjamin 
Harrison.  Col.  Alcorn  has  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  politics  and  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is 
a  popular,  genial  gentleman,  and  in  the  commu- 
nity where  he  now  makes  his  home  he  has  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  who  esteem 
him  highly. 


W.  GUESS,  a  thrifty  and  well- 
known  agriculturist  of  Jasper  County,  who 
resides  on  section  23,  Smallwood  Township, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State.  He  was  born  in 
Butler  County,  on  the  12th  of  December,  1843, 
and  is  a  son  of  Harvey  W.  and  Mary  (Jones) 
Guess,  both  of  whom  were  of  American  birth. 
The  father  was  born  March  13,  1811,  and 
the  mother  April  12,  1816.  They  were  married 
February  8,  1838,  and  had  born  unto  them  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Emma,  who  was  born  December 
11,  1838,  and  was  married  November  1,  1859; 
Ellis,  who  was  born  August  25,  1842,  and  died 
January  29,  1843;  George  W.,  our  subject;  Marga- 
ret, who  was  born  April  22,  1845,  and  was  mar- 
ried October  16,  1862;  and  Cynthia  A.,  who  was 
born  December  6,  1849,  became  Mrs.  Judd  Octo- 
ber 27,  1874,  and  died  December  14,  1875.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  June  15,  1849,  and  the 
mother  November  3,  1872.  The  former  was  a 
Mexican  soldier  and  died  when  George  W.  was 
quite  small,  after  which  our  subject  was  adopted 
and  reared  by  Daniel  P.  Monroe,  of  Jefferson 
County,  Ind.,  with  whom  he  remained  until  seven- 
teen years  of  age.  Mr.  Monroe  then  gave  him 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


his  time,  and,  prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country,  joining  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  B,  Sixth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, with  which  he  served  for  seventeen  months. 
He  then  re-enlisted,  becoming  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, and  remained  in  the  service  until  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  having  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Shiloh  and  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  the 
siege  of  Corinth,  besides  several  other  skirmishes 
on  the  picket  line  and  on  the  march.  He  was  a 
faithful  soldier,  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty, 
defending  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

When  hostilities  had  ceased,  Mr.  Guess  was 
honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  what  he 
called  his  home,  in  Jefferson  Count}',  Ind.  His 
adopted  father  gave  him  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Jasper  County,  II!.,  and,  coining  to  this  place,  he 
began  the  cultivation  of  that  tract.  Since  that 
time  he  has  resided  in  Jasper  County,  and  has 
continuously  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
now  owns  a  beautiful  country  home,  located  about 
five  miles  west  of  West  Liberty,  and  his  valuable 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres 
yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  cultivation  he  bestows  upon  it. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1864,  Mr.  Guess  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susanna  Monroe, 
who  was  born  in  Scott  County,  Ind.,  December  9, 
1843,  and  was  a  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Sarah 
(Anderson)  Monroe.  The  former  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1822,  and  is  now  engaged  in  fann- 
ing in  this  county.  The  latter  was  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  her  death  occurred  in  that  State. 
One  child  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife:  William  Walter,  who  was  born  August  30, 
1865,  and  is  now  operating  the  home  farm.  On 
the  28th  of  September,  1892,  he  wedded  Miss  Nora 
Wakefield,  of  Jasper  County.  March  27,  1893,  our 
subject  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  which  was  deeply  regretted  by  her  friends 
and  neighbors  as  well  as  by  her  own  immediate 
family. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Guess  is  a  Republican 
and  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party. 
Socially,  lie  is  a  member  of  Charles  Morrison 
Post  No.  578,  G.  A.  It.,  of  West  Liberty.  Public- 


spirited  and  progressive,  he  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  lias  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  ad- 
vancement and  progress  of  the  county.  The  com- 
munity finds  in  him  a  valued  citizen,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  this  record  of  his  life  to 
our  readers. 


RREN  M.  CHAUNCY,  the  leading  tonsorial 
artist  of  Olney,  is  a  native  of  Richland 
County,  111.,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
October,  1857.  His  father  is  David  W.  Chauncy, 
who  was  also  born  in  Richland  County,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  being  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  this  locality.  At  a  very  early  day  he 
located  about  two  miles  east  of  the  present  court 
house,  on  the  old  State  Road.  He  was  called  to 
his  final  rest  a  number  of  years  since,  but  the 
grandmother  still  lives  on  the  old  homestead  and 
has  attained  to  the  age  of  more  than  four-score 
years. 

After  arriving  at  man's  estate,  David  Chauncy 
married  Rossettie  Barney,  a  daughter  of  Abiel 
Barney,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Richland  Count}'. 
The  father  of  our  subject  was  a  soldier  of  the 
late  war,  faithfully  defending  the  Old  Flag  as  a 
member  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. He  also  had  three  brothers  in  the  service. 
In  1866,  when  Orren  was  a  lad  of  about  nine 
years  of  age,  the  family  removed  to  Champaign 
County,  111.,  and  the  parents  now  reside  in  Pen- 
field,  this  State.  In  the  Chauncy  family  were  six 
children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  The  only  brother  of  our 
subject  now  living,  Alvin  D.  Chauncy,  resides  in 
Olney.  The  parents  also  lost  one  son,  the  eldest 
of  the  family,  named  Oliver  Abiel. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr. 
Chauncy  whose  name  heads  this  record.  He 
was  reared  to  manhood  under  the  parental  roof 
and  learned  the  trade  of  barber  in  Rantoul,  111. 
He  worked  at  various  points  before  establishing  a 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


shop  of  his  own,  but  at  length  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  now  occupies  the  corner 
room  of  the  Fritchie  Block,  opposite  the  First 
National  Bank.  His  quarters  are  finely  furnished, 
his  furniture  being  of  the  latest  approved  pattern. 
He  also  has  suitable  bathrooms  in  connection 
with  his  business.  He  is  a  superior  workman  and 
commands  a  liberal  patronage,  which  he  well  de- 
serves. Mrs.  Chauncy  was  formerly  Miss  Mary 
E.  Bryan.  By  the  union  of  this  worthy  couple 
have  been  born  four  children,  three  sons  and  a 
daughter,  namel}':  Jesse,  Harry,  Nellie  and  Oliver. 
The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  take  an  active  interest  in  its  growth 
and  upbuilding.  In  politics,  Mr.  Chauncy  is  a 
Republican. 

Our  subject  has  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
best  citizens  of  the  community  for  the  decided 
stand  he  has  taken  on  the  side  of  temperance  and 
his  opposition  to  the  sale  of  intoxicants.  This 
course  is  doubly  commendable  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Chauncy,  as  he  formerly  possessed  the  habit  of 
drink,  but,  well  aware  of  its  injurious  effects  from 
practical  experience,  lie  now  devotes  his  earnest  ef- 
forts to  the  suppression  of  the  great  evil.  He  lives 
an  upright,  honorable  life  and  well  deserves  rep- 
resentation in  the  history  of  his  native  county. 


THOMAS  BROOKS,  who  follows  farming  on 
section  7,  Crooked  Creek  Township,  Jasper 
County,  is  well  known  throughout  this 
community  as  an  enterprising,  progressive  agricul- 
turist, and  needs  no  special  introduction  to  the 
readers  of  this  volume.  His  life  record  is  as  fol- 
lows: He  is  a  native  of  the  township  which  is 
still  his  home,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides  on  the  2d  of  April, 
1843.  His  father,  Isaac  Brooks,  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, but  was  reared  in  Ohio.  When  a  young  man 
he  emigrated  further  Westward,  making  a  location 
in  Indiana.  He  was  there  united  in  marriage  with 
Patience  Spencer,  a  native  of  New  York  State. 


Early  in  1843  they  came  to  Illinois  and  took  up 
their  residence  in  Jasper  County,  where  Mr.  Brooks 
entered  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Government  in 
Crooked  Creek  Township.  He  then  began  its  de- 
velopment and  transformed  it  into  the  farm  upon 
which  our  subject  now  resides.  He  devoted  his 
energies  to  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  which  was  passed  upon  the 
old  homestead.  Here  his  death  occurred  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1877.  His  wife  was  called  to  her  final 
rest  several  years  previous,  and  the  remains  of  both 
were  interred  in  the  Brooks  Burial-ground,  where 
a  neat  monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memory. 

Thomas  Brooks  is  the  youngest  in  a  family  of 
seven  children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  years  and  were  married 
and  reside  in  Jasper  County.  Our  subject  spent 
the  da3rs  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  old 
homestead,  his  time  being  passed  in  attendance  at 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  in 
the  labors  of  the  farm.  He  remained  with  his  fa- 
ther until  he  had  attained  his  majority  and  then 
began  life  for  himself,  locating  upon  the  part  of 
the  old  homestead  where  he  now  resides.  He 
cleared  and  fenced  the  land,  built  upon  it  the 
necessary  buildings,  and  has  developed  it  into  a 
good  farm,  which  is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  well  improved.  He  has  set  out  a 
good  orchard  and  has  added  many  other  improve- 
ments which  indicate  his  progressive  spirit.  His 
home  is  a  rich  and  substantial  residence,  and  he  is 
considered  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  Crooked 
Creek  Township. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1865,  Mr.  Brooks  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eva  M.,  daughter  of 
John  Cummins,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Jasper 
County,  where  the  lady  was  born.  Five  children 
graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks,  the  eld- 
est of  whom,  Viola,  is  now  the  wife  of  Henderson 
Nichols,  of  this  county;  James  L.  is  married  and 
operates  a  farm  adjoining  that  of  his  father;  Eliza 
P.,  Elizabeth  J.  and  Minnie  A.  are  the  younger 
members  of  the  family.  They  also  lost  one  child, 
a  son,  John  Isaac,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  are  members  of  the  United 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


567 


Brethren  Cliurcli,  and  have  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  their  many  friends  and  acquaintances.  In  pol- 
itics, he  has  been  a  stanch  Republican  since  casting 
liis  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
in  1864.  He  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of 
that  party,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 
Mr.  Brooks  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Jasper 
Count3-,  and  has  therefore  seen  much  of  its  prog- 
ress and  advancement.  He  has  also  aided  in  its 
development  and  upbuilding,  and  ever  bears  his 
part  as  a  representative  and  valued  citizen. 


.  HARVEY  MULLINS,  one  of  the  lead- 
ing and  influential  citizens  of  Parkersburgh, 
was  born  on  the  9th  of  May,  1817,  in  Dan- 
ville, Ky.,  and  is  descended  from  Revolu- 
tionary stock.  His  great-grandfather  was  a  native 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  emigrated  from  Ireland  to 
America  in  about  1750,  settling  in  Culpeper 
Court  House,  Va.  Hisson,  James  Mullins,  was  one 
of  the  valiant  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  serving 
throughout  the  struggle  for  independence.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  Stephen  Mullins,  married 
Lucy  Sanderfer,  a  lady  of  Welsh  descent.  When 
Harvey  was  fourteen  years  of  age  they  removed 
to  Alabama,  but,  not  being  in  sympathy  with  the 
institution  of  slavery,  Stephen  Mullins  took  his 
family  to  Paris,  111.,  in  1836.  There  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

Harvey  Mullins,  when  seventeen  years  of  age, 
entered  the  Alabama  Medical  College,  of  Tusca- 
loosa,  and  after  coming  to  this  State  he  continued 
his  studies  in  private,  and  at  intervals  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  As  a  companion 
and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Sa- 
rah, daughter  of  Abner  and  Sarah  Leach,  of  Paris, 
111.  Their  union  was  celebrated  September  12, 
1839,  and  unto  them  were  born  eleven  children,  of 
whom  seven  died  in  infancy.  Henrietta  became 
the  wife  of  I).  N.  Webster,  and  is  now  deceased. 
Harvey,  Jr.,  is  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Acme 


Mill  Company,  of  Indianapolis;  Will  S.  is  a  lead- 
ing physician  of  Henderson,  Ky.;  and  Sue  A.  is  the 
wife  of  A.  M.  Parker,  of  Warrensburg,  111. 

About  1855,  Mr.  Mullins  began  dealing  in  gen- 
eral merchandise  at  Paris,  and  there  carried  on 
business  in  that  line  until  1870.  The  year  1879 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Parkersburgh,  where  he 
opened  a  drug  store.  In  this  business  he  is  still 
engaged,  and  he  is  also  doing  more  or  less  office 
practice.  About  1850,  he  was  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Christian  Church.  Since  his  conversion,  in 
1841,  he  has  been  preaching,  and  since  his  ordina- 
tion lie  lias  been  engaged  in  evangelistic  work. 
He  has  preached  throughout  southeastern  Illinois, 
and  has  done  much  faithful  service  in  the  cause. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  an  ardent  temperance 
worker,  and  for  some  time  was  Grand  Worthy 
Chaplain  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Good  Templars.  He  lias  lectured  in 
nearly  every  county  in  the  State  in  the  interest  of 
the  temperance  cause.  In  1840,  Mr.  Mullins  took 
the  stump  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  and  has 
spoken  in  the  interest  of  almost  every  Presidential 
candidate  of  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties 
since  that  time.  Much  of  his  life  has  been  devoted 
to  public  work.  In  this  way  he  has  become  widely 
known,  and  wherever  he  has  gone  he  has  made 
warm  friends,  who  hold  him  in  high  regard  for  his 
upright  life  and  the  many  excellencies  of  his  char- 
acter. 


>HE    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

of  Effingham  is  the  successor  to  the  society 
first  organized  in  Ewington,  the  old  county 
seat  of  this  county,  in  1835.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
Mr.  Graham,  who  was  succeeded  by  several  others. 
About  1855,  the  place  of  holding  meetings  was 
changed  to  Effingham.  and  the  circuit  was  thereaf- 
ter known  as  the  Effingham  Circuit.  The  minister 
in  charge  in  1855  was  Rev.  Mr.  Mapes,  who  was 
followed  by  several  successors  until  18fi7.  when  the 
circuit  was  divided  and  Etfingham  City  made  a 
station,  that  is,  it  was  given  the  exclusive  service 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  a  pastor.  Since  that  time  the  church  at  Effing- 
ham  has  had  an  uninterrupted  pulpit  supply  to  the 
present.  Rev.  R.  Hesse  is  the  pastor  of  the  church 
at  this  writing.  The  congregation  numbers  two 
hundred  and  thirty  members. 

They  own  a  parsonage  in  addition  to  the  house 
of  worship,  which  is  a  substantial  brick  structure. 
It  was  erected  in  1866  and  named  the  Centenary 
Church,  because  built  in  the  year  of  the  one  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  introduction  of  Method- 
ism into  America.  A  good  Sunday-school  is  kept 
up  throughout  the  year,  and  has  an  average  attend- 
ance of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  to  two  hun- 
dred scholars.  The  Superintendent  is  Prof.  W.  J. 
Brinckley.  The  Stewards  of  the  church  are  W.  M. 
Thompson,  J.  W.  Johnson,  E.  G.  West,  J.  E.  Brown, 
I.  A.  Smothers,  J.  E.  Barber,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  W. 
Robinson,  J.  M.  Myers,  J.  Harding,  I.  C.  Barber 
and  Charles  Klohr.  Its  Trustees  are  William 
Thompson,  W.  B.  Dennis,  O.  C.  Barber  and  B. 
Wood. 


M.  ROSS  is  one  of  the  honored 
eaily  settlers  and  prominent  farmers  of 
Jasper  County.  He  resides  on  section  18, 
Wade  Township,  where  he  has  a  fine  home,  his  well 
cultivated  fields  and  fertile  lands  indicating  his 
industry  and  enterprise.  Mr.  Ross  also  has  the 
honor  of  being  a  native  of  this  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  on  his  present  farm  October  26, 
1844.  His  father,  Robert  Ross,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  there  grew  to  manhood.  When  a 
young  man  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  was  married  in 
Belmont  County  to  Naomi  McKinley,  daughter  of 
John  McKinley.  Soon  after  their  marriage  the 
young  couple  came  to  Illinois.  This  was  about 
1835.  They  settled  in  Jasper  County,  where  the 
husband  entered  land  from  the  Government,  and 
began  the  development  of  the  farm  on  which  our 
subject  now  resides.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  carried  on  work  in  that  line  for  himself  and 


neighbors  for  several  years,  but  at  length  devoted 
his  entire  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
followed  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1849.  His  wife  survived  him  for  many  years 
and  reared  her  family.  She  passed  away  August 
2,  1876,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side, of  her 
husband  in  Vanderhoof  Cemetery,  where  a  monu- 
ment marks  their  last  resting-place. 

F.  M.  Ross  is  the  youngest  of  a  famil}'  of  four 
children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  but  Thompson, 
the  eldest,  is  now  deceased.  Mary  Ann  is  the  wife 
of  Lawrence  Banty,  and  resides  in  Wade  Township, 
Jasper  County.  William,  the  third  member  of  the 
family,  has  also  departed  this  life. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farmer  lads,  attending  the  public  schools  in 
the  winter  season  and  aiding  in  the  labors  of  the 
field  during  the  summer  months.  He  thus  became 
familiar  with  the  business  in  all  its  details,  and 
after  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  took  charge 
of  the  home  farm.  He  has  greatly  improved  the 
place,  making  it  one  of  the  best  country  homes  in 
Jasper  County.  His  dwelling  is  a  substantial  and 
neat  residence,  in  the  rear  of  which  are  good  barns 
and  other  outbuildings,  and  these  are  surrounded 
bv  well-tilled  fields,  which  yield  a  golden  tribute  to 
the  care  and  cultivation  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Ross  was  united  in  marriage  in  Wade  Town- 
ship, January  4,  1872,  with  Miss  Kate  Banty,  a  na- 
tive of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Banty. 
She  was  reared  and  educated  in  Jasper  County. 
Six  children  have  been  born  of  their  union:  Cora, 
wife  of  Joseph  Mitchell,  a  farmer  of  Marion  Count}', 
111.;  Carrie,  Harry,  Nora,  Clyde,  Mabel  and  Ev- 
erett. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Ross  is  a  Democrat. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  John  B.  Mc- 
Clellau,  and  has  supported  every  Presidential  nom- 
inee of  the  Democracy  since  that  time.  Our  sub- 
ject has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  oflice,  but  has 
held  several  local  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  served  as  commissioner  for  about  fifteen  years. 
Socially,  he  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  belonging  to 
the  Blue  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Newton.  Himsell 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Newton,  and  are  highly  respected  citizens,  whost 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


569 


sterling  worth  and  many  excellencies  of  eharactei 
have  made  them  prominent  and  highly  esteemed 
people.  Mr.  Ross  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  Jas- 
per County,  and  has  witnessed  much  of  its  growth 
and  upbuilding.  He  has  also  aided  in  its  develop- 
ment and  has  ever  borne  his  part  as  an  upright 
and  valued  citizen. 


NDREW  .1.  ERVIN,  M.  D.,  who  is  en- 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery  in  Latona,  III.,  is  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Jasper  County,  where 
for  almost  half  a  century  he  has  made  his  home. 
A  native  of  Indiana,  he  was  born  near  Mt.  Carmel, 
February  18,  1835.  His  grandfather,  Elias  Ervin, 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  was  of  Irish  de- 
scent. He  was  probably  not  a  regular  soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  War,  but  took  part  in  many 
Indian  skirmishes.  At  an  early  day  he  removed 
to  Kentucky,  where  James  Ervin,  the  father  of  ouv 
subject,  was  born,  and  later  came  to  Illinois,  but 
after  a  short  residence  in  Coles  County  he  removed 
to  De  Bruin,  Mo.,  where  he  died  in  the  fall  of 
1868,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

James  Ervin  was  a  boot  and  shoe  maker  by  trade 
and  also  followed  farming.  When  a  young  man 
lie  removed  to  Indiana,  locating  near  Mt.  Carmel, 
where  he  met  and  married  Miss  Mary,  daughterof 
John  Hutchinson,  who  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
but  at  an  early  date  went  to  the  Hoosier  State.  In 
1836  he  removed  to  Coles  County,  111.,  and  in 
1841  came  to  Jasper  County,  settling  near  the 
present  site  of  Latona,  where  he  died  in  1849. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ervin  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  the 
sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  living,  namely: 
Andrew  J.,  of  this  sketch;  Hiram,  who  is  living  in 
De  Bruin,  Mo.;  James  L.,  a  resident  of  Devine, 
Tex.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Trower,  of  Waynes- 
ville,  Mo.;  and  Caroline,  wife  of  Newton  Hen- 
dricks,  of  De  Bruin,  Mo.  In  1859  the  father  of 
this  family  removed  to  De  Bruin,  Mo.,  where  he  fol- 


lowed his  trade  and  also  carried  on  farming  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1882,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  His  wife  died  six 
years  previous.  They  were  both  faithful  and  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  Mr. 
Krvin  was  one  of  its  Elders  for  many  years. 

Dr.  Ervin,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  spent 
his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  district  schools.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  twenty  years  of  age  and  was 
then  married.  On  the  27th  of  December,  1854,  he 
wedded  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  William  B.  and 
Elizabeth  (Irwin)  Bryan,  of  Indiana.  Seven  chil- 
dren were  born  of  that  union,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  but  live  are  now  deceased,  namely: 
Morris  Buford,  Rose  Elina,  Andromeda,  Nancy 
Jane  and  John.  Andrew  Jackson  married  Miss 
Ida  Ellen  Brannan,  and  resides  on  a  farm  near 
Latona.  They  have  four  children:  Velnaa  Olive, 
Erma  Estella,  Arthur  Clinton  and  Iva  lona.  May 
is  the  youngest  member  of  the  Ervin  family. 

The  Doctor  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1861 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Franke,  of  Newton, 111., 
and  began  practicing  about  1863.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  late  war  in  April,  1861,  he  enlisted 
as  a  member  of  the  Union  army  and  was  assigned 
to  Company  K,  Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
with  which  he  served  for  about  eight  months,  when 
he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  He 
then  returned  home  and  resumed  the  study  of 
medicine,  but  in  March,  1865,  he  re-enlisted  as  a 
member  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  as  Hospital  Steward. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Dr.  Ervin  returned  to  his  home  and  resumed  prac- 
tice. In  1867  lie  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  10th  of  March. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  a 
most  devoted  Christian  lady.  On  the  14th  of 
August  following,  the  Doctor  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Margaret  Lucinda,  a  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Mary  Ann  (Waggoner)  Holm,  formerly 
of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife 
are  both  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
take  an  active  interest  in  its  growth  and  upbuild- 
ing. He  is  at  present  serving  as  Deacon',  and 


570 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


while  in  Missouri  be  was  for  some  years  Elder  of 
the  church  with  which  he  held  membership. 

Dr.  Ervin  has  ever  been  an  earnest  student  of 
his  profession  and  has  enjoyed  a  liberal  practice, 
but  on  account  of  rheumatism  he  is  now  unable  to 
ride  and  so  does  01113'  office  practice.  In  politics 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  socially  is  a  member  of 
Holm  Post  No.  195,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Latona.  He  is  at 
present  Postmaster  of  this  place,  a  position  which 
he  has  held  four  j'ears,  and  was  its  first  Postmaster, 
being  commissioned  in  1863,  when  the  postoffice 
was  known  as  Constantinople.  He  was  also  Post- 
master in  De  Bruin,  Mo.,  has  been  School  Director 
for  about  eight  years,  and  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  Tax  Collector,  but  did  not  serve  on  account  of 
his  removal  to  Missouri.  Dr.  Ervin  owns  a  com- 
fortable and  pleasant  home  in  Latona  and  about 
thirteen  acres  of  land.  As  before  stated,  he  is 
numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county,  having  located  here  when  the  county  was 
almost  a  wilderness.  He  has  seen  as  many  as  a 
hundred  deer  in  one  day  on  the  prairies  round 
about,  and  other  kinds  of  wild  game  were  also 
found  in  abundance.  In  the  work  of  develop- 
ment and  transformation  that  has  taken  place  since 
he  first  came  to  the  county,  he  has  ever  borne  his 
part  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  Jasper 
County's  prominent  pioneers,  as  well  as  leading 
physicians. 


AMUEL  P.  BYRNE  is  a  highly  respected 
and  representative  farmer  of  Richland 
County,  residing  on  section  19,  Claremont 
Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  one 
hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  land.  This  valu- 
able tract  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return 
for  his  care  and  cultivation.  It  is  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  locality,  and  its  substantial  residence, 
good  outbuildings,  finely  improved  machinery, 
thrifty  orchard  and  well-tilled  fields  all  indicate 
the  enterprise  as  well  as  the  careful  supervision  of 


the  owner.  The  place  stands  as  a  monument  to 
his  industry  and  progressive  spirit,  for  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  empty-handed,  and  has 
gained  his  property  through  his  own  well-directed 
efforts. 

The  Byrne  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  at  an 
early  day  was  founded  in  America.  The  grand- 
father, Samuel  Byrne,  and  the  father,  William  P. 
Byrne,  were  natives  of  Virginia.  When  a  young 
man,  the  latter  sought  a  home  in  the  then  far 
West,  locating  in  Clay  County,  111.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Olney,  Richland  County,  to  Miss  P^valine' 
Burns,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who  came  during 
childhood  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  Charles 
Burns,  an  early  settler  of  this  county.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Byrne  followed  farming  here  for 
several  years  and  then  located  in  Clay  County, 
where  he  improved  a  good  place.  He  has  now 
rented  his  farm  and  removed  to  Ingraham,  where 
he  is  living  a  retired  life.  He  was  a  soldier  of 
the  late  war,  serving  for  two  years  in  the  struggle. 
In  March,  1875,  his  first  wife  died,  and  he  has 
since  been  again  married. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Denver  Township, 
Richland  County.  June  19,  1857,  and  is  the  second 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom  is  now  sixteen  years  of  age. 
All  are  living,  and  six  of  the  number  are  now 
married  and  have  families.  Samuel  grew  to 
manhood  in  Clay  Count}',  and  acquired  an  excel- 
lent education.  On  attaining  Ins  majority,  he  left 
the  parental  roof  and  rented  land,  which  he 
operated  in  his  own  interest  for  several  years.  It 
was  in  1890  that  he  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Byrne  was  married  in  Olney,  November  (5, 
1877,  Miss  Olive  Monroe  becoming  his  wife.  She 
was  born  in  Wayne  County,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Johnson  and  Roxanna  Monroe,  honored  pioneer 
settlers  of  that  county.  Five  children  were  born 
of  this  union:  Roy,  Walter,  Mary  Alta,  Mamie  and 
Lora.  The  latter,  who  was  the  eldest,  died  in  child- 
hood. The  Byrne  household  is  the  abode  of  hospi- 
tality and  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  the  high  re 
gard  of  their  many  friends  and  acquaintances.  They 
arc  faithful  and  consistent  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  and  Mr.  Byrne  takes  quite 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


571 


an  active  part  in  church  and  Sunday-school  work, 
being  the  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  Mt.  Plea- 
sant Sunday-school.  He  is  a  member  of  Calhoun 
Lodge  of  Modern  AVoodmen,  and  since  casting 
Ins  first  Presidential  vote  for  Rutherford  13.  Hayes, 
has  been  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 
He  has  served  as  Supervisor  of  his  township,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 


&HOMAS  N.  CARPENTER,  who  owns  and 
operates  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
good  land  on  section  4,  Wade  Township, 
Jasper  County,  is  a  prominent  farmer  of  the  com- 
munity and  his  home  is  pleasantly  located  within 
a  mile  of  Newton.  A  native  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
he  was  born  in  Hocking  County,  Ohio,  November 
28,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  James  Carpenter.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  in  that 
State  married  Nancy  Cough.  For  a  number  of 
years  lie  followed  farming  in  the  East,  and  in  1843 
removed  to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Hocking  County.  In  the  midst  of  the 
forest  he  hewed  out  a  farm,  clearing  and  fencing 
the  place  and  making  many  improvements  upon 
it.  There  he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life,  and 
was  called  to  his  home  beyond  May  11,  1865.  He 
held  various  official  positions  of  honor  and  trust, 
and  was  a  leading  and  influential  citizen.  In  poli- 
tics, he  was  throughout  life  identified  with  the 
Democratic  parly.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and 
lives  with  her  daughter  near  the  old  homestead. 
The  family  celebrated  her  eighty-ninth  birthday 
in  1892,  on  which  occasion  eight  of  her  children 
were  present,  besides  numerous  grandchildren  and 
great-grandchildren,  four  generations  being  rep- 
resented. 

Mr.  Carpenter  of  this  sketch  is  the  ninth  in  or- 
der of  birth  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  six 
daughters.  The  eldest,  William  D.,  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  years;  Luctnda  M.,  widow  of 
Thomas  Plumer,  resides  in  Perry  County,  Ohio; 

30 


James  E.  came  to  Illinois  in  1846,  and  lived  in 
Jersey  County  until  1858,  when  he  went  to  Kan- 
sas, where  his  death  occurred  in  1877;  Eliza  resides 
near  the  old  homestead;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
Sebastian  Runser,  and  is  living  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio;  Hulda  is  the  wife  of  John  R.  West,  of  Hock- 
ing County,  Ohio;  Sarah  J.  is  the  widow  of  Joseph 
Walker,  of  Warren  County,  Ohio;  O.  C.  Campbell 
is  a  farmer  of  Douglas  County,  III.;  Thomas  is  the 
next  younger;  and  Phtebe  E.  is  the  wife  of  J.  W. 
Martin,  of  Perry  County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the  old 
farm  in  Hocking  County,  where  his  education  was 
acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and  he  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  It  was  in  1865  that  he  came  to  Illinois, 
but  after  six  months  spent  in  Montgomery  County, 
he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  took  charge  of  the  farm 
for  his  mother,  operating  the  old  homestead  for 
two  years. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  united  in  marriage  in  Hock- 
ing County,  November  7,  1864,  with  Miss  Marga- 
ret E.  Anderson,  a  native  of  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  who,  when  a  maiden  of  fourteen  summers, 
went  with  her  father,  George  S.  Anderson,  to 
Hocking  County.  She  was  a  successful  teacher 
before  her  marriage  and  is  a  cultured  and  intelli- 
gent lady.  By  their  union  have  been  born  five 
children  who  are  yet  living,  and  they  lost  one, 
William  N.,  their  first-born,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty  months.  Omer  O.  is  at  home.  George  L.  is 
assistant  operator  at  Newton,  111.  Bert  B.  is  at 
home.  Emma  B.  and  Maud  A.  are  both  attending 
the  home  school. 

For  many  years  after  his  marrrage,  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter was  successfully  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  merchandising  in  Perry  and  Hocking 
Counties,  Ohio,  and  farmed  for  thirteen  years 
previous  to  coming  West.  In  the  spring  of  1888, 
he  removed  to  Jasper  County,  and  located  upon 
the  farm  which  is  now  his  home.  It  is  a  valuable 
and  desirable  property  and  he  has  made  many  im- 
provements thereon.  Ere  the  publication  of  this 
book,  however.  Mr.  Carpenter  expects  to  remove 
to  West  Liberty,  where  he  has  purchased  a  cream- 
ery. He  has  rented  his  farm  and  will  engage  in 
the  manufacture  of  butter,  while  his  sons  will 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


manufacture  brooms.  In  politics,  Mr.  Carpenter 
was  formerly  identified  with  the  Republican  part}7, 
but  of  late  years  he  has  voted  with  the  Prohibi- 
tion party  at  State  and  National  elections.  At 
local  elections  he  votes  independently.  Himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Newton  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  are  among  the  most  highly 
respected  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they 
make  their  home,  having  the  warm  regard  of  all 
who  know  them.  Their  home  is  ever  open  for  the 
reception  of  their  many  friends,  and  the  stranger 
too  is  welcomed,  while  the  poor  and  needy  are 
never  turned  from  their  door  empty-handed. 


HARLES  LEGG,  M.  D.,  who  resides  on 
section  36,  German  Township,  is  one  of  the 
early  settlers  and  pioneer  physicians  of 
Richland  County,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  widely 
known  throughout  this  part  of  the  State,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  present  to  our  readers  this 
record  of  his  life.  The  Doctor  is  a  native  of 
Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Hamilton  County,  twelve 
miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  January  22,  1825.  His 
father,  William  C.  Legg,  was  born  in  Maryland,  and 
went  to  Ohio  when  a  lad  of  ten  years  with  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  was  born  in 
Maryland,  was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  became  one 
of  the  honored  pioneer  settlers  of  Ohio.  In  the 
Buckeye  State  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  reared 
his  family.  William  C.  Legg  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  married  Lydia  Myers,  a 
native  of  Maryland.  Her  father,  John  Myers,  was 
a  native  of  Germany,  who,  having  emigrated  to 
America,  settled  near  Cincinnati,  where  he  im- 
proved a  farm.  He  afterwards  sold  that  land  and 
removed  to  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  the  spring  of  1 866.  Having  survived 
him  for  a  number  of  years,  his  wife  passed  away  in 
1875.  They  were  buried  in  Fletcher  Cemetery, 
where  a  neat  and  substantial  monument  marks 
their  resting-place. 


The  Doctor  is  the  fourth  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  six  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  with  the 
exception  of  one  brother  all  are  yet  living.  Charles 
Legg  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  a  young  man 
of  nineteen  years.  Having  acquired  his  literary 
education  in  the  public  schools,  he  engaged 
in  teaching  for  about  six  years  in  the  county  of 
his  birth.  During  that  time  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine  and  in  the  early  morning  and  late  at  night 
when  not  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  school 
room,  he  would  pore  over  medical  books.  Later  he 
took  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Ohio  Medical  Col- 
lege, after  which  he  entered  upon  practice  in 
Liberty,  Ohio.  Subsequently  he  opened  an  office 
and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Fletcher,  where  he  remained  for  nine  and  a-half 
years. 

The  fall  of  1865  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Dr 
Legg  in  Illinois,  and  in  November,  1866,  he 
located  upon  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  which  he  afterwards  gave  his  son.  In  the  fall 
of  1875,  he  took  up  his  residence  upon  the  home 
farm  of  fort3'-one  acres,  an  improved  place,  to 
which  he  has  since  added  by  additional  purchase. 
He  now  owns  three  hundred  and  eight}'  acres  in 
Richland  County,  and  a  forty-acre  tract  in  Jasper 
County.  In  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  met 
with  good  success,  receiving  calls  from  a  radius 
of  many  miles  around. 

In  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  May  31,  1846,  the 
Doctor  married  Hannah  Patterson,  a  daughter  of 
Alexander  Patterson,  and  a  native  of  that  county. 
Two  sons  were  born  of  their  union,  C.  W.  and  W. 
A.,  both  of  whom  are  married  and  have  families, 
and  are  substantial  farmers  of  this  county.  They 
also  lost  two  children  in  infancy. 

The  Doctor  was  in  early  life  a  Jackson  Demo- 
crat, but  on  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  in  1856  he  became  identified  with  it  and  has 
voted  for  each  nominee  for  Governor  of  his  State 
and  President  since  that  time.  He  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  the  issues  of  the  day  and  takes  quite  an 
active  interest  in  local  politics,  having  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Central  Committee  for  over  twenty 
years.  He  has  also  served  as  delegate  to  the 
county,  congressional  and  State  conventions,  but 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


573 


has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  The  career 
of  the  Doctor  has  been  a  prosperous  one,  and  suc- 
cess lias  crowned  his  efforts,  so  that  although  lie  be- 
gan life  empty-handed,  he  is  now  the  possessor  of 
a  handsome  competence.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  strict  integrity, and  his  straightforward 
and  honorable  course  has  won  him  the  confidence 
and  high  regard  of  the  community  in  which  he  has 
so  long  made  his  home. 


^ILLIAM  PARKER,  who  is  a  grain-dealer 
and  farmer  residing  on  section  25,  Madi- 
son Township,  Rich  land  County,  is  one  of 
the  worthy  representatives  of  an  honored  pioneer 
family  of  the  community.  He  was  born  on  the 
23d  of  March,  1840,  in  Parkersburgh,  which  place 
was  named  in  honor  of  his  grandfather,  James 
Parker,  who  settled  there  in  1&18,  and  afterward 
platted  the  village.  He  became  the  first  Postmas- 
ter of  the  place,  and  also  kept  hotel  there  for 
many  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  James  II.  and 
Mary  (Mason)  Parker.  The  former  was  quite  a 
small  boy  when  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois. Here  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed,  and 
for  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  most  extensive 
farmers  and  stock-dealers  of  the  community.  A 
prominent  and  inlluential  citizen,  he  served  as 
Sheriff  of  Richland  County  for  three- terms,  and  was 
also  a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  a 
proposed  constitution  for  the  State.  He  died  in 
April,  1845,  and  his  wife  passed  away  a  few  years 
later.  In  his  death  the  county  lost  a  valued  and 
highly  respected  citizen. 

William  Parker  attended  the  district  school,  and 
afterward  became  a  student  in  the  seminary  at 
Ml.  Carmel.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  began  life 
for  himself  as  a  cattle-herder,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  past  he  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits,  besides  dealing  in  live  stock  quite  exten- 
sively. In  company  with  Mr.  Althouse  he  bought 
a  sawmill  on  Sugar  Creek  Prairie,  and  a  few  years 


later  removed  it  to  the  village,  where  it  still  stands. 
They  converted  it  into  a  gristmill,  and  enlarged 
and  improved  it.  Mr.  Parker  owns  two  hundred 
acres  of  welt-improved  land,  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  deals  in  grain  and  other  produce. 
For  a  few  years  lie  also  dealt  in  general  merchan- 
dise. His  life  has  been  abus3' one,  and  success  has 
come  to  him  as  the  result  of  his  diligence,  perse- 
verance and  well-directed  efforts. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  1861,  Mr.  Parker  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  C'.,  daughter  of 
Charles  T.  Agnew,  of  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  and  unto 
them  were  born  six  children:  Charles  McClellan, 
deceased;  Alta  S.;  Harrison  O.;  Maude  F.,  wife  of 
J.  D.  Foster;  William  C.  and  Minnie  C.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Parker  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  stanch  advo- 
cate of  the  principles  of  his  party.  Socially,  he  is 
a  Knight-Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  Gorin  Com- 
mandery  of  Olney.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  successful  business  men  of  Rich- 
land  County,  and  is  an  honored  pioneer,  well  de- 
serving of  representation  in  the  history  of  his  na- 
tive county. 


fj  OHN  MYERS,  a  retired  farmer  and  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Grove  Township,  Jasper 
|  County,  residing  on  section  24,  was  born  in 
'  Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  September  13,  1812, 
while  his  parents  were  on  their  wa3'  home  to 
Davidson  County,  N.  C.  The  Myers  family  is  of 
German  origin,  and  was  founded  in  this  country 
by  the  grandparents  of  our  subject,  who  emigrated 
from  their  native  Germany  and  located  in  North 
Carolina  in  Colonial  days.  The  grandmother  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  The  grandfather 
died  in  middle  life,  leaving  a  son,  Jacob,  then 
three  years  old.  This  child  became  the  father  of 
our  subject.  He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
State  and  married  Catherine  Shular,  who  was  born 
in  the  same  State,  as  was  also  her  father,  Abraham 
Shular,a  farmer  and  blacksmith  of  North  Carolina, 
who  died  iu  1828,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  in 


574 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  faith  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  For  some  time 
Jacob  Myers  followed  agricultural  pursuits  iu  the 
State  of  his  nativity,  and  in  1830  removed  to 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  where  be  carried  on  farm- 
ing until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1870,  after 
a  residence  there  of  forty  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county  and  a  prominent 
farmer.  He  passed  away  in  the  eighty-first  year 
of  his  age,  and  his  wife  died  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Fountain  County,  July  24,  1885,  in  her  ninety- 
second  year.  Both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Chu-.ch  and  were  highly  respected  people.  They 
had  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  John,  Eli,  Jacob  II.,  Franklin  M.,  Elijah  and 
Mary  M.  are  still  living.  All  are  married  and  have 
families  .of  their  own. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  In 
the  summer  months  he  aided  his  father  in  the  labors 
of  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter  season  attended  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  where  he  ac- 
quired his  education.  After  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity,  he  chose  as  a  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey  Catherine,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Catherine  (Long)  Fine.  Their  union  was  celebra- 
ted October  11,  1832,  and  unto  them  were  born 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  but  three  sons  and 
two  daughters  are  now  deceased.  Maria  and 
Jacob  A.,  the  two  eldest,  have  passed  away.  Peter, 
who  resides  upon  a  farm  two  miles  northeast  of 
Gila,  married  Susie  Krout,  and  has  eight  children: 
Ephraim,  Nettie,  Charles  O.,  Rosa  A.,  Stella,  Harry 
C.,  Clara  C.  and  Ira  E.  Susanna  is  the  wife  of 
Michael  M.  Sowers,  of  Gila,  by  whom  she  has  five 
children:  Sarah  I.,  Mary  C.,  Wickliff  D.,  Alva  L. 
and  Oscar  A.  John  C.  married  Miss  Lucinda 
Grimes,  who  died  October  17,  1864,  leaving  two 
children,  Emma  Z.  and  Edna  May,  and  after  her 
death  he  wedded  Miss  Elmira  A.  Mcllvee,  by  whom 
he  lias  a  son  and  daughter,  Laura  B.  and  John  C. 
Levi  F.,  the  next  child  of  the  Myers  family,  is  de- 
ceased. Noah  D.,  of  Decatur,  111.,  wedded  Mattie 
Jane  Ward,  and  they  have  four  children :  Bessie  Lee, 
Minnie  May.  Lulu  Pearl  and  Murl  M.  Noah  is  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Deeatur,  111.,  where  he 
has  practiced  for  five  years.  For  thirteen  years 
he  practiced  iu  Gila  and  two  years  in  Indiana,  and 


has  won  an  excellent  reputation.  Mathias  H. 
is  deceased,  as  is  also  the  next  child,  Mary  M. 
Amanda  C.,  twin  sister  of  Mary,  is  the  wife  of 
James  A.  Sanders,  of  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and 
the  mother  of  four  children:  Susie,  David  W., 
Martha  C.  and  James  Leroy.  Eli,  the  youngest 
member  of  the  Myers  family,  is  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.  He 
married  Polly  Wirt  and  four  children  grace  their 
union:  Lena  Leota,  Vinnie  R.,  Edith  G.  and  J. 
Howard.  Our  subject  has  thirty  grandchildren 
and  twenty-five  great  grandchildren.  In  1891,  he 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who 
died  on  the  loth  of  January,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-nine years,  five  months  and  twenty -seven  days. 
She  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  a  faithful  and  loving  wife  and  mother, 
and  was  held  in  the  highest  regard -by  a  large  cir- 
cle of  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Myers  has  followed  farming  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  On  embarking  in  that 
pursuit  he  began  the  cultivation  of  a  tract  of  tim- 
berland  of  eighty  acres  in  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
which  his  father  deeded  to  him.  This  he  cleared, 
plowed  and  planted,  and  in  course  of  time  had  a 
fine  farm,  whose  rich  and  fertile  fields  yielded  to 
him  abundant  harvests.  He  lived  upon  that  farm 
for  the  long  period  of  forty-seven  years,  and  ex- 
tended its  boundaries  until  it  comprised  two  hun- 
dred acres.  On  the  6th  of  June,  1879,  he  arrived 
in  Jasper  County,  and  at  Gila  opened  a  general 
store  and  also  established  the  poslolfice  at  that 
place,  becoming  its  first  Postmaster.  There  he 
resided  and  carried  on  business  until  the  deatli  of 
his  wife,  when  he  went  to  live  with  his  son-in-law 
and  daughter,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sowers.  He  still, 
however,  owns  his  property  in  Gila. 

Mr.  Myers  has  always  led  a  quiet,  unassuming 
life,  never  taking  a  very  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs.  However,  he  has  been  a  good  citizen,  and 
while  living  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  he  held  the 
office  of  School  Treasurer.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  for  some  years  was  a  Deacon, 
in  the  Hoosier  State.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life- 
long Democrat,  having  supported  that  party  since 
he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren.  Mr, 
Myers  is  now  in  his  eighty-first  year,  but  he  is  still 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


575 


enjO3'ing  quite  good  health.  His  life  has  been  well 
spent,  and  though  he  has  lived  so  quietly,  he  has 
lived  so  honorably  that  in  whatever  community  he 
has  made  his  home  he  has  had  the  confidence  and 
good-will  of  all. 


AMUEL  A.  HEDRICK,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  28,  Decker  Township, 
has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Rich- 
land  County,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
the  township  which  is  still  his  home,  November 
25,  1862.  His  parents  were  Edwin  and  Mary  A. 
(Adamson)  Hedrick,  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Their  family  numbered  seven  children,  three  sons 
and  four  daughters,  and  all  are  3-et  living.  They 
are  Elvira,  Francis  M.,  Samuel  A.,  Eva  M.,  Mary 
M.,  Emma  E.  and  Edwin,  Jr.  The  father  of  this 
family  has  been  n  farmer  and  stock-dealer  through- 
out his  entire  life,  although  when  a  young  man 
he  taught  school  for  a  limited  time  in  Kentucky. 
In  that  State  he  was  married,  and  with  his  wife  he 
came  to  Illinois.  He  purchased  his  first  tract  of 
land  with  the  money  which  he  had  earned  through 
teaching,  and  upon  the  farm  of  which  he  then 
became  owner  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
first  bought  a  half-interest  in  forty  acres,  about 
six  miles  southeast  of  Noble.  He  now  owns  over 
one  thousand  acres  of  land,  of  which  nine  hun- 
dred acres  are  in  Richland  County,  while  the  re- 
mainder is  in  Wayne  County.  His  farms  he  has 
improved  with  good  houses,  barns,  fences,  etc. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county 
and  has  witnessed  its  development  from  a  wild 
and  unimproved  region.  Mr.  Hedrick  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  his  wife  also  belongs,  and  he  has  served  as 
one  of  its  deacons  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  Supervisor  of  Decker  Township  for  a  few 
terms  and  also  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Samuel 
Hedrick,  was  a  native  of  Hardin  County,  Ky.,  and 


wrote  all  the  public  documents  in  the  county  seat 
of  that  county  for  a  number  of  years,  serving  as 
County  Recorder.  He  was  of  German  descent, 
and  was  a  Presbyterian  in  religious  belief.  He 
came  to  Illinois  about  1850,  settled  on  a  farm 
seven  miles  southeast  of  Noble,  and  for  some  years 
carried  on  a  country  store.  He  died  about  1857. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a 
Kentucky  farmer  and  never  left  his  native  State. 

Samuel  Hedrick,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  reared  on  a  farm  in  Richland  County,  and  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  marriage.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  country  schools  and 
then  took  a  two-years  course  in  Champaign  Uni- 
versity, at  Champaign,  111.  Returning  home,  he 
then  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  stock  busi- 
ness, and  this  led  him  to  visit  all  the  States  from 
Texas  to  Illinois.  He  has  made  two  trips  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  has  traveled  extensively  in 
the  West. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1893,  Mr.  Hedrick  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nellie  E.  Stewart, 
daughter  of  Enoch  J.  and  Emma  L.  (Greenwood) 
Stewart,  the  former  a  native  of  Richland  County, 
111.,  and  the  latter  of  Richland  County,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Stewart  is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  this  community.  He  was  a  soldier  of  Com- 
pany E,  Forty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry, and  served 
about  three  years.  After  the  war  he  spent  two 
years  in  the  West,  and  on  returning  to  Rich- 
land  County,  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in 
Claremont,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1889. 
He  then  embarked  in  the  same  business  in  Noble, 
and  carried  on  operations  until  his  death,  which 
occurred.  January  23,  1891.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  His  wife,  who  still  survives 
him,  holds  the  same  religious  faith. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedrick  re- 
moved to  "Walnut  Grove  Farm,"  where  our  sub- 
ject had  just  completed  a  beautiful  little  residence, 
and  in  their  comfortable  home  they  are  now  pleas- 
antly situated.  The  farm  comprises  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  land,  and  Mr.  Hed- 
rick also  owns  another  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  an  improved  farm  in  the  southern 
part  of  this  county.  He  deals  extensively  in 


576 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stock  and  often  has  as  many  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty  head  of  cattle  and  as  many  horses  on  hand. 
He  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  his  en- 
terprise and  industry  are  bringing  him  a  good  in- 
come. In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  socially 
is  a  member  of  Noble  Lodge,  No.  362,  A.  F.  <fe 
A.  M.;  and  Richland  Chapter,  No.  38,  R.  A.  M. 
His  wife,  a  most  estimable  lady,  holds  membership 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Ckurch. 


OSES  JOHNSON,  a  retired  farmer  and 
prominent  citizen  residing  in  Olney,  is  a 
native  of  Richland  County.  He  was  born 
on  the  24th  of  May,  1839,  in  Decker 
Township,  and  is  a  son  of  Moses  and  Sarah  (Mason1) 
Johnson,  the  former  born  in  Kentucky  in  1799, 
and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania  in  1805.  When 
young  people  they  came  to  Richland  County,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  Mr.  Johnson  was 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneers,  locating  here  in  1815. 
For  many  years  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  upon  a  farm  which  he  developed  and  im- 
proved. His  death  occurred  August  13,  1849. 
His  wife  long  survived  him  and  died  at  the  home 
of  her  son  Andy  in  1887.  Mr.  Johnson  started 
out  in  life  poor,  but  became  the  possessor  of  a 
handsome  property  as  the  result  of  his  diligence 
and  industry.  He  took  quite  a  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs  and  was  a  leading  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity. In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  Johnson  family  numbered  eight  children. 
Thomas,  who  served  as  a  Captain  in  the  Ninety- 
eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  is  now  deceased;  Jane 
died  in  this  county;  Polly  and  Elizabeth  are  both 
deceased;  A.  V.  is  a  prominent  farmer  of  Decker 
Township;  Permelia  has  also  passed  away;  Moses 
is  the  next  younger;  and  Celia,  deceased,  com- 
pletes the  family. 

The    boyhood    days  of    our  subject  were  spent 
upon  a  new  farm,  and  he  was  early  inured  to  the 


arduous  labors  of  developing  the  raw  prairie.  He 
conned  his  lessons  in  a  log  schoolhouse,  which  was 
four  miles  distant  from  his  home.  When  ten  years 
of  age  he  began  plowing  with  oxen.  He  early 
learned  to  swing  the  scythe  and  cradle,  and  in  all 
departments  of  farm  work  he  became  proficient. 
He  remained  at  home  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted 
in  Olney  as  a  member  of  Company  H,  Ninety- 
eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  of  which  his  brother  was 
Captain.  The  regiment  was  assembled  at  Cen- 
tralia  and  started  for  Louisville,  Ky.  The  train 
was  wrecked  at  Bridgeport  by  rebel  sympathizers, 
and  seven  men  were  killed  and  seventy-five 
wounded.  Mr.  Johnson  afterward  went  to  Nash- 
ville and  from  there  to  Murfreesboro.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Atlanta, 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Resaca,  and  was  for  one 
hundred  days  under  fire  while  on  the  way  to  At- 
lanta. He  started  to  the  sea  with  Sherman,  but 
returned  to  Louisville,  where  he  was  put  in  a  cav- 
alry corps  and  took  part  in  the  famous  raid  under 
Gen.  Wilson.  With  his  regiment  he  charged  the 
works  at  Selma,  Ala.,  and  after  the  capture  of  that 
place  went  to  Macon,  Ga.  In  1865  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged,  and  on  the  7th  of  July  of  that 
year  reached  his  home.  The  regiment  lost  heavily, 
about  two-thirds  never  returning.  Mr.  Johnson 
was  wounded  in  the  service,  but  he  proved  himself 
a  faithful  soldier  and  was  always  found  at  his  post 
of  duty. 

In  1869  our  subject  married  Miss  Margaret  Por- 
terfield,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  unto  them 
have  been  born  the  following  children:  Mary  P., 
James  Allen,  Sarah  A.,  Idclla,  William  Herbert 
and  Laura.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Johnson  be- 
gan farming  and  stock-feeding.  He  owned  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the 
old  homestead,  and  for  many  years  he  successfully 
carried  on  business,  but  in  1892  he  laid  aside  all 
cares  and  removed  to  Olney,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life. 

Socially,  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Olney,  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Mt. 
Erie,  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Mutual  Aid. 
With  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  he  holds 
membership,  and  to  its  support  he  contributes  lib- 
erally. The  duties  of  citizenship  are  by  him  faith- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


577 


fully  discharged,  and  every  trust  reposed  in  him 
is  performed  with  the  same  fidelity  which  he  mani- 
fested when  in  his  country's  hour  of  peril  he  aided 
in  the  defense  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 


NDREW  JACKSON  WYATT,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Richland  County,  is  now  a 
prosperous  fanner  of  Madison  Township, 
residing  on  section  29,  where  lie  owns  and 
operates  about  three  hundred  acres  of  choice  farm- 
ing land,  well  stocked  and  improved.  The  neat 
appearance  of  his  place,  with  its  rich  and  fertile 
fields  and  good  buildings,  indicates  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  owner. 

On  the  7th  of  May,  1841,  near  Salem,  Edwards 
County,  111.,  Mr.  Wyatt  was  born.  His  parents, 
Joseph  D.  and  Mary  (Lough)  Wyatt,  were  both 
natives  of  Virginia.  The  former  was  of  Irish, 
and  the  latter  of  German,  descent.  They  located 
in  Edwards  County,  111.,  about  three  years  before 
the  birth  of  our  subject,  and  after  a  long  residence 
there  of  about  twenty  years,  came  to  Richland 
County  in  1857.  The  family  located  upon  a  farm 
on  section  29,  Madison  Township,  where  Andrew 
now  resides.  Later  in  life  Joseph  Wyatt  became 
a  resident  of  Wayne  County,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred on  Christmas  Day  of  1882.  His  wife  passed 
away  a  few  years  previous,  dying  in  the  same 
county  in  February,  1878. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  but  limited 
school  privileges  in  his  youth.  During  his  boy- 
hood he  aided  in  the  labors  of  his  father's  farm, 
and  also  assisted  the  neighboring  farmers.  His 
time  was  thus  passed  until  April,  1865,  when  he 
left  home  and  went  to  Burning  Springs,  W.  Vn., 
where  he  worked  as  an  engineer  in  the  oil  mines. 
Two  years  were  thus  passed,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Richland  County,  and  bought  the  home- 
stead farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  also  owns 
fifty-one  acres  of  real  estate  in  Pike  County,  Ohio. 
It  was  on  the  18th  of  February,  1869,  that  the 
marriage  ceremony  was  performed  which  united 


the  destinies  of  Mr.  Wyatt  and  Miss  Elizabeth 
Carlton.  Mrs.  Wyatt  was  born  in  Wabash  Coun- 
ty, 111.  Her  parents  were  Robert  and  Mary  (Comp- 
ton)  Carlton,  the  former  a  native  of  Gibson  Coun- 
ty, Ind.,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  They  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  Wabash  County,  having 
located  there  upwards  of  half  a  century  ago,  remov- 
ing to  Edwards  County,  in  the  same  State,  about 
twenty  years  later.  They  were  both  twice  mar- 
ried. By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Carlton  had  one  daugh- 
ter, who  died  several  years  ago;  and  Mrs.  Carlton 
by  her  first  husband  had  a  daughter,  who  is  Mrs. 
Vashti  Aldridge,  now  living  in  Richland  County, 
111.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlton  reared  a  family  of  six, 
one  son  and  five  daughters,who  grew  to  maturity, 
only  three  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing. 
Hiram  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Wayne  County;  Mrs. 
Wyatt  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Maria,  who  mar- 
ried D.  Briener,  is  now  deceased;  Sarah  Jane  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Marshall,  of  Edwards  County; 
Hannah  wedded  Harvey  McDowell,  and  is  also 
deceased;  and  Julia  Ann,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Henry  Knouse,  died  some  years  ago.  Mr. 
Carlton  died  in  Wabash  County  in  December, 
1869,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years;  and  Mrs. 
Carlton  passed  away  April  5,  1877,  at  the  home  of 
her  son  in  Wayne  County,  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  Mr.  Carlton  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  for  many  years  was  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
was  an  active  and  influential  member  of  his  party. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wyatt  have  been  blessed  with  six 
sons,  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken 
by  the  hand  of  Death.  In  order  of  birth  they  are 
as  follows:  Walter  M.,  Arthur  L.,  Wilbur  S.,  Rob- 
ert H.,  William  H.  and  Harvey  J.  The  family- 
are  all  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and  in 
politics  Mr.  Wyatt  is  an  enthusiastic  Democrat, 
warmly  advocating  the  principles  of  his  party. 

Our  subject  has  watched  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  Richland  County  with  increasing  in- 
terest and  satisfaction.  When  he  was  a  boy  the 
people  in  this  locality  dressed  in  homespun,  and 
they  did  their  farming  with  very  crude  machinery 
as  compared  with  the  improved  implements  of  to- 


578 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


day.  Deer  and  other  wild  game  supplied  the  set- 
tlers with  meat,  and  bee  trees  were  frequently 
found,  so  there  was  no  dearth  of  food,  although  the 
nearest  gristmill  was  twenty-five  miles  distant. 
The  principal  articles  taken  to  market  were  pork 
and  tobacco,  and  the  hogs  were  usually  driven 
long  distances  to  a  place  where  sales  could  be 
made.  In  the  work  of  upbuilding  and  develop- 
ing the  country,  Mr.  Wyatt  has  ever  done  his  part 
as  a  faithful  citizen  and  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume. 


JOSEPH  E.  WISHARD,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  12,  North  Muddy  Town- 
ship, has  been  a  resident  of  Jasper  County 
'    for  over  half   a   century    and  is  numbered 
among  its  honored  pioneers.     He  has  been  an  eye- 
witness of  almost  its   entire  growth,  has  seen  its 
wide  prairies  transformed  into  beautiful  homes  and 
farms,  while  towns  arid  villages  have  sprung  up, 
railroads  have  been  built,  and  all  the  improvements 
of    civilization    have    been    introduced.      In    the 
transformation  of  the  county  and  in  its  progress 
and  advancement  Mr.  Wishard  has  ever  borne  his 
part. 

Our  subject  was  born  August  24,  1818,  in  Flem- 
ing County,  Ky.,  seven  miles  from  Flemingsburg, 
the  county  seat,  where  he  lived  until  his  fifteenth 
year.  His  father,  William  Wishard,  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  was  born  after  his  father's  death,  and 
in  consequence  nothing  is  known  of  his  paternal 
ancestry.  William  came  to  America  when  seven 
years  old,  and  for  some  time  lived  upon  a  farm 
in  Pennsylvania.  Later  he  removed  to  Fleming 
County,  Ky.,  and  purchased  five  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  which  is  situated  in 
Nicholas  County,  the  division  line  between  the  two 
counties  dividing  the  farm.  He  built  his  home 
in  Fleming  County,  where  all  of  his  children  were 
born.  He  married  Elizabeth  Rhodes,  a  native 
of  Maryland  and  a  daughter  of  a  Revolutionary 


soldier.  During  the  War  of  Independence,  her 
father  was  badly  wounded  by  an  arrow,  shot  by  an 
Indian.  He  however  recovered  and  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age.  His  death  occurred  in  Maryland,  his 
native  State.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wishard  were 
born  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  eight  of  whom 
grew  to  mature  years,  but  our  subject  is  probably 
the  only  one  living  to-day. 

In  the  early  days,  Mr.  Wishard  would  load 
grain  and  provisions  on  flatboats,  which  he  floated 
down  the  Licking,  Ohio  and  Mississsippi  Rivers 
to  New  Orleans.  He  made  fifteen  trips  in  this 
way  and  fourteen  times  walked,  the  entire  distance 
back.  On  one  occasion  he  paid  $100  for  a  deck 
passage  on  a  steamer,  his  trip  being  from  New 
Orleans  to  Louisville,  Ky.  Since  then  his  son,  our 
subject,  made  the  same  trip  for  $2.  In  1828, 
having  sold  his  land  in  Kentucky,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Indiana,  locating  on  a  farm  in 
Marion  County,  six  miles  south  of  Indianapolis, 
where  he  died  the  next  year  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven.  His  farm  in  the  Hoosier  State  contained 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  are  now  al- 
most within  the  city  limits  of  the  State  capital. 
Mrs.  Wishard  afterward  became  the  wife  of 
William  Hooker,  a  farmer  near  Indianapolis,  and 
unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  four  years.  Mr.  Hooker  passed  away 
some  years  previous  to  the  death  of  his  wife.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1868,  in  Grove 
Township,  Jasper  County,  III.,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Joseph 
E.  Wishard,  who  in  his  fifteenth  year  went  with 
his  parents  to  Indiana,  and  after  his  father's 
death  continued  to  operate  the  farm  and  reside 
with  his  mother  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when, 
Mrs.  Wishard  having  again  married,  he  went  to 
live  with  his  brother  Henry,  whose  home  was 
about  fifteen  miles  southeast  of  Indianapolis. 
There  he  remained  until  after  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand 
at  $6  pur  month.  He  also  followed  teaming  and 
other  pursuits  whereby  he  might  make  an  honest 
livelihood.  Later  he  purchased  some  timberland 
and  cut  logs,  which  he  sawed  into  lumber  and 
shipped  to  other  places.  For  four  years  he  fol- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


lowed  that  business.  About  1841,  he  lost  $1,500 
b}'  going  security.  The  following  year  he  came  to 
Illinois  to  try  his  fortune  and  made  a  claim  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  Government  land  in 
•Jasper  County.  He  was  involved  to  the  amount 
of  about  $500  at  that  time  on  account  of  the  losses 
he  sustained  in  paying  security  debts,  and  in  con- 
sequence he  had  to  begin  at  the  bottom  of  the  lad- 
der. But,  as  one  of  the  old  Greek  philosophers 
said,  "Nothing  is  impossible  to  industry,"  and  the 
industrious  and  energetics  nature  of  Mr.  Wishard 
soon  won  him  success.  He  paid  altogether  $2200,  for 
security  debts,  but  notwithstanding  this  difficulty 
in  his  palh,  he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
wards, until  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  well-to- 
do  citizens  of  the  community.  His  farm,  now 
comprising  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land, 
is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved with  a  substantial  residence,  good  build- 
ings, fences,  etc.  He  raises  horses,  cattle  and  hogs 
on  quite  an  extensive  scale  and  feeds  all  of  his 
grain  to  his  stock. 

Mr.  Wishard  was  married  November  14,  1851, 
to  Miss  Lydia,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Martha 
(McNntt)  Presser,  who  were  natives  of  Indiana. 
The  young  wife  died  in  1853,  and  on  the  24th  of 
November,  1858,  our  subject  wedded  Miss  Marian 
Patrick,  daughter  of  Charles  Patrick,  of  Newton, 
111.  Three  children  were  born  unto  them,  but 
Scepter  and  Minnie  died  in  early  childhood. 
Charles,  the  eldest,  makes  his  home  in  Pittsburg, 
Colo.  The  mother  of  this  family  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  September  4,  1872.  On  the  4th  of  May, 
1873,  Mr.  Wishard  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Whet- 
stein)  Galbreath.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  but  her  mother  was  born  in  Virginia. 
Three  children  graced  the  union  of  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  two  of  whom  are  yet  living,  Lizzie 
and  Robert.  Lillie,  the  second  child,  died  when 
eight  months  old. 

Mr.  Wishard  has  served  for  fifteen  years  as 
School  Director  and  has  held  other  township  offices. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  fraternity.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  tht 
Protestant  Methodist  Church.  In  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat,  having  supported  that  party  since  1840, 


when  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  James 
K.  Polk,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  election, 
when  he  voted  for  Weaver.  Mr.  Wishard 's  long 
residence  in  the  county  has  made  him  widely 
known,  and  his  upright  life  has  won  him  universal 
esteem.  He  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
county  and  its  interests.  He  located  upon  his  pres- 
ent farm  when  there  were  only  three  houses  between 
it  and  Newton.  The  wild  prairie  grass  grew  as 
tall  as  a  man's  head,  the  county  was  infested 
with  wolves,  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds  abounded. 
Mr.  Wishard  bore  the  experience  and  hardships  of 
pioneer  life,  but  now  these  have  passed  away  and 
in  his  declining  years  he  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
a  well-spent  life. 


GUIS  S.  RYUN,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Granville,  Jasper  County,  has  for 
man}-  years  been  engaged  in  the.  agricult- 
ural interests  of  this  community,  but  is  now  resting 
after  a  busy  and  well-spent  life.  He  was  born 
March  16,  1838,  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
the  eleventh  child  in  a  family  of  six  sons  and  eight 
daughters  born  unto  Joseph  and  Priscilla  Ryun. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State  March 
15,  1792.  He  was  reared  to  farm  work,  but  in 
connection  with  that  occupation  he  also  carried 
on  a  shop,  where  he  engaged  in  making  chairs  and 
spinning-wheels.  lie  was  of  Irish  extraction.  His 
death  occurred  November  12,  1849,  in  Ohio.  His 
wife  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  July  12,  1792, 
and  died  December  26,  1866,  in  Bell  Air,  Crawford 
County,  111. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the  home 
farm  with  his  parents,  and  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  his  youth.  The  common  schools  afforded 
him  his  educational  privileges.  Having  attained 
his  majority,  he  left  home,  starting  out  in  life 
for  himself  without  a  dollar,  and  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade  for  some  time.  He  was  married 
October  12,  1852,  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Ileacocks,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio,  April  27,  1831.  He  then  pur- 


580 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


chased  a  farm  of  forty  acres  of  land  in  Putnam 
County,  Ohio,  a  tract  covered  with  heavy  timber, 
and  began  its  development,  which  he  continued 
until  1858.  He  later  sold  that  farm  and  came  to 
Jasper  County,  111.,  where  he  rented  land  for  a 
time. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1861,  Mr.  Ryun  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  Sixty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
with  that  regiment  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  and  was 
promoted  to  Commissary-Sergeant.  He  participa- 
ted in  a  number  of  important  engagements,  includ- 
ing the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  and  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg.  He  wejit  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea,  and  participated  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington,  where  wave  after 
wave  of  bayonet-crested  blue  passed  through  the 
streets  of  the  Capitol  City.  He  was  never  wounded 
or  taken  prisoner,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was 
honorably  discharged  as  a  valiant  soldier. 

On  his  return  to  the  North,  Mr.  Ryun  located  in 
Bell  Air,  Crawford  County,  111.,  where  he  purchased 
a  residence.  Subsequently  he  sold  that  property 
and  came  to  Jasper  County,  where  he  rented  a  farm 
for  two  years.  He  then  purchased  thirty  acres  of 
land  adjoining  the  corporation  limits  of  Gran  ville, 
and  locating  thereon  devoted  his  energies  to  farm- 
ing and  carpentering.  He  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  the  village,  where  he  has  a  comfortable  home 
and  is  pleasantly  situated. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ryun  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  are  now  living:  Louis  N.,  a 
carpenter  residing  in  Chicago;  Levander  L.,  a 
farmer  and  carpenter  residing  in  Granville  Town- 
ship, Jasper  County;  and  L.  E.,  wife  of  Thomas 
Whitmore,  a  prosperous  agriculturist  of  this  com- 
munity. The  mother  died  October  28,  1875,  and 
on  Christmas  Day  of  1877  Mr.  Ryun  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Rebecca  A.  Bliss,  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana. She  died  April  6,  1879,  leaving  a  son,  Edward 
C.,  who  is  still  at  home.  For  his  third  wife,  Mr. 
Ryun  chose  Nancy  A.  Boyd,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 3,  1857,  in  Indiana.  Four  children  graced  this 
union,  of  whom  three  are  now  living:  Clarence  A., 
Myrtie  L.  and  James  Arthur. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  Mr.  Ryun  was  elected 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he  held  for  twelve 


years,  being  re-elected  from  time  to  time.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  is  now  Notary  Public.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stanch  Republican,  and  served  as  Chairman  of  the 
Republican  Central  Committee  of  Granville  Town- 
ship for  about  five  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  of  Casey,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
has  lived  an  honorable,  upright  life. 


RLANDO  W.  GRAY,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Richland  County,  who  follows  farming 
on  section  18,  Denver  Township,  was  born 
in  Vermont,  August  27,  1833.  His  father,  Abel 
Gray,  was  born  in  the  old  Granite  State,  and  after 
a  residence  of  some  years  in  Vermont  came  to 
Illinois,  in  1836.  The  remainder  of  his  life  was 
passed  near  Olney,  where  he  died  in  1861,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years.  He  had  served  as  a  Captain 
in  the  War  of  1812.  He  was  a  natural  mechanic, 
and  could  make  anything  out  of  wood,  from  a 
dainty  piece  of  ornamental  work  to  a  wagon. 
When  he  came  to  the  county  there  were  only  three 
houses  in  Olney,  two  of  these  log  cabins.  He  ob- 
tained wild  land  on  the  State  road  from  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  developed  a  farm.  He  was  a  well- 
educated  man,  and  in  this  community  became  a 
prominent  citizen.  By  his  ballot  he  supported  the 
Whig  party,  and  in  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Methodist.  In  the  State  of  his  nativity,  he  mar- 
ried Betsy  Pettingill,  whose  father  was  a  native  of 
England.  The  following  are  the  children  born 
unto  this  worthy  couple:  Betsy  Clara,  now  de- 
ceased; Mrs.  Maria  Talley,  of  Olney;  Harriet  Ulm 
and  Pettingill,  deceased;  William,  who  is  living  a 
retired  life  in  Olney;  Mrs.  Ruth  Dewhirst,  of  Den- 
ver Township;  and  O.  W.,  of  this  sketch. 

The  Gray  family  made  the  journey  to  the  West 
by  teams,  and  were  eight  weeks  upon  the  road. 
Our  subject  was  then  only  three  years  old.  He  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


581 


reared  upon  the  new  farm  which  his  father  devel- 
oped, and  remained  with  his  parents  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  earn  his  own  live- 
lihood by  working  as  a  farm  hand.  He  bought 
the  last  Congressional  land  in  the  county,  obtain- 
ing the  money  for  this  purchase  by  working  on 
the  telegraph  line  from  Louisville,  Ky.,  to  St. 
Louis,  Mo.  He  bought  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  for  which  he  went  in  debt,  but  soon  paid  off 
the  indebtedness  and  twenty-five  per  cent,  interest 
additional.  Not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an 
improvement  made  upon  the  property,  but  he  at 
once  began  to  clear,  plow  and  plant,  and  has  placed 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  three  hundred 
acres  of  rich  land.  His  farm  comprises  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  acres,  and  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  county.  He  also  engages  in  stock-raising, and 
this  branch  of  his  business  has  been  alike  success- 
ful. 

Mr.  Gray  was  married  January  18,  1855,  toEm- 
eline  Ulm.  The  children  born  of  their  union  were 
Coriden  C.,  who  married  Emma  Davis,  and  died  in 
1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years;  William 
T.  S.,  who  wedded  Florence  Adams  and  is  an  agri- 
culturist of  Denver  Township;  Rosetta  J.;  Pearly 
B.;  Florence  Irene;  Minnie,  wife  of  John  Tenny- 
son, a  Methodist  minister;  Bertha  Prudence,  and 
Seth  O.,  who  died  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years.  The  children  have  all  been  provided  with 
good  educational  advantages,  and  William  was  a 
student  in  the  Olney  High  School. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  they  are 
liberal  supporters.  He  cast  his  first  ballot  for  the 
Whig  candidate  in  1856,  voted  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1860,  and  was  a  stanch  Republican  until 
within  a  few  3"ears.  He  is  now  independent  in 
politics.  lie  belongs  to  the  Far  mere'  Mutual  Ben- 
efit Association.  He  was  Postmaster  of  Boot  Post- 
office  for  ten  years,  and  is  now  serving  his  fourth 
term  as  Supervisor  of  Denver  Township.  One  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Richland  County,  he  has 
for  fifty-seven  years  been  an  eye-witness  of  its 
growth  and  upbuilding.  He  carried  dinner  to  the 
men  who  were  engaged  in  securing  the  logs  for 
the  first  school  house  and  church  in  Olney.  In 
many  ways  has  he  been  prominently  identified 


witli  the  development  of  the  county,  and  the  com- 
munity recognizes  in  him  a  valued  citizen,  whose 
upright  and  honorable  life  has  won  for  him  uni- 
versal confidence  and  esteem.  He  is  justly  proud 
of  the  county  which  he  has  seen  transformed  from 
an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  to  one  of  the  lead- 
ing counties  in  southern  Illinois. 


'XT 


>HE  EFFINGHAM  CANNING  &  WOOD 
PACKAGE  COMPANY  is  an  important 
industry  of  Effingham,  111.  It  was  estab- 
lished in  1889,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year 
was  incorporated.  Its  officers  are:  Hon.  Benson 
Wood,  President;  Edward  Austin,  Vice-President 
and  Secretary;  and  Frank  G.  Austin,  Manager. 
The  following-named  gentlemen  constitute  its 
Board  of  Directors:  Hon.  Benson  Wood,  Edward 
Austin,  Calvin  Austin,  Charles  E.  Austin,  William 
Dyke  and  Frank  G.  Austin.  The  working  capital 
employed  is  between  $50,000  and  $75,000. 

The  canning  of  tomatoes  forms  the  staple  of 
the  business.  When  the  business  was  opened  and 
the  product  of  the  factory  put  upon  the  market, 
the  company  found  competition  close  and  sales 
difficult,  but  by  the  third  season  the  superior  qual- 
ity of  the  goods  turned  out  won  such  favor  that 
the  orders  have  many  times  exceeded  the  capac- 
ity of  the  works,  so  that  the  business  has  proved 
a  success,  far  beyond  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of 
its  proprietors.  The  building  is  two  hundred  feet 
in  length  by  an  average  of  ninety  feet  in  width, 
and  is  two  stories  high,  with  basement.  The  struc- 
ture is  frame,  standing  on  solid  stone  and  brick 
walls,  is  substantially  built  and  is  conveniently 
arranged  for  the  business  it  is  designed  for.  A 
large  boiler  and  small  engine  are  in  use. 

In  addition  to  the  putting  up  of  the  large  quan- 
tity of  tomatoes  already  mentioned,  the  company 
prepares  and  cans  a  large  quantity  of  string  beans, 
and  for  the  season  of  1893  are  prepared  to  can 
green  corn  extensively.  They  have  also  recently 
engaged  in  the  preparation  of  mince-meat,  which 


582 


i»ORTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


is  sold  in  wooden  buckets.  Although  this  branch 
of  the  business  is  new,  this  class  of  goods  is  rap- 
idly growing  in  favor,  especially  at  home,  where 
many  of  the  company's  patrons  have  had  an  op- 
portunity to  observe  how  scrupulously  neat  is 
everything  pertaining  to  its  manufacture,  and 
that  only  the  best  of  ingredients  enter  into  its 
composition. 

This  company  has  recently  opened  in  the  capa- 
cious basement  of  their  factory  an  extensive  pork- 
packing  establishment,  which  they  design  operat- 
ing during  the  winter  and  early  spring,  thus  mak- 
ing use  of  the  large  capital  that  would  otherwise 
lie  idle  during  the  non-working  and  non-shipping 
season  of  the  canning  business.  The  employes  of 
the  canning  works  are  mostly  women  and  girls, 
and  the  number  in  the  busy  season  is  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  three  hundred.  The  plant  is  situated 
near  the  line  of  the  Vandalia  Railroad,  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  city  of  Efflngham,  where  Fayette 
Avenue  intersects  that  railway.  It  is  complete  in 
its  appointments  and  uses  the  most  improved  mod- 
ern machinery  in  the  line  of  its  work.  Everything 
about  the  establishment  denotes  extreme  order 
anrd  neatness. 


?RANCIS  M.  HESLER,  deceased,  who  de- 
voted his  time  and  attention  to  agricult- 
ural pursuits,  owned  a  farm  of  ninety  acres 
on  section  20,  Fox  Township,  Jasper  County. 
The  neat  appearance  of  the  place  well  indicated 
the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  who  was 
ranked  among  the  leading  farmers  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  therefore  well  deserves  representation  in 
this  volume.  A  native  of  Indiana,  he  was  born  in 
Decatur  County,  March  24,  1844,  and  was  one  of 
a  family  of  nine  children  whose  parents  were  Jo- 
seph and  Fannie  (Wynes)  Hesler.  The  mother 
died  in  1850, and  three  years  later  the  father  came 
with  his  children  to  Jasper  County,  111.,  locating 
in  Willow  Hill  Township,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  called  to  his  final  rest,  in  1860.  The  mem- 


bers of  the  Hesler  family  were  John,  David,  James, 
Francis  M.,  Margaret,  William,  Elijah,  Daniel  and 
Joseph. 

In  his  early  boyhood  Mr.  Hesler  of  this  sketch 
spent  his  time  in  farm  work  or  in  attendance  at 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  but  his 
educational  privileges  were  very  limited.  He  was 
only  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  Government  for  the  late  war,  enlist- 
ing on  the  17th  of  January,  1862,  as  one  of  the 
boys  in  blue  of  Company  K,  Thirty-second  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into  service  at 
Words  Point,  Mo.,  and  three  nights  afterwards 
was  put  on  picket  duty  between  Ft.  Henry  and  Ft. 
Donelson.  The  first  active  engagement  in  which 
he  participated  was  at  Shiloh.  He  remained  in 
the  service  until  January  17,  1865,  when  he  was 
honorably  discharged.  Although  so  young,  he 
proved  a  faithful  and  competent  soldier,  and  was 
ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty. 

Mr.  Hesler  had  accompanied  his  father  on  his 
removal  to  Jasper  County  in  1853,  but  after  the 
close  of  the  war  he  went  to  Richland  County,  and 
began  farming  upon  rented  land  in  Preston  Town- 
ship. Subsequently  he  operated  a  rented  farm  in 
Willow  Hill  Township,  Jasper  County,  until  1873, 
when  he  removed  to  North  Muddy  Township, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1878.  In  that  year 
he  purchased  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  family, 
and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  April  9,  1893. 

Our  subject  was  married  September  4,  1883,  to 
Mrs.  Emily  J.  Hesler,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Kinkade,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Martha  A. 
(Veech)  Kinkade,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Kentucky,  where  they  were  married.  Thej'  located 
in  Coles  County,  111.,  about  1851,  and  two  years 
later  removed  to  Richland  County.  Mr.  Kinkade 
is  still  living,  and  resides  in  Dundas,  but  Mrs. 
Kinkade  died  in  February,  1891. 

Mrs.  Hesler,  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  was  the 
widow  of  David  Hesler,  by  whom  she  had  a  family 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Elva,  James  L., 
Allie,  Nannie,  David  W.,  and  Mary  and  Martha, 
twins.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years; 
the  other  members  of  the  family  are  all  living 
with  their  mother. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


583 


Mr.  Hesler  took  quite  an  active  interest  in  poli- 
tics, and  voted  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
was  serving  as  Constable  of  Fox  Township  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  the  fact  that  he  had  filled 
that  office  for  eight  years  testifies  to  his  fidelity  to 
duty.  Socially  he  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' society  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
The  same  spirit  which  made  him  a  good  soldier 
during  the  late  war  characterized  his  life  work, 
and  in  the  community  where  he  made  his  home 
Mr.  Hesler  was  not  only  widely,  but  very  favorably 
known. 


'SOLDER  GEORGE  WASHINGTON  MOR- 

||U)  RELL,  a  minister  of  the  Christian  Church 
/f1 — ^;  residing  in  Olney,  was  boin  in  Richland 
County,  near  Parkersburgh,  June  15,  1831,  and  is 
a  son  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Long)  Morrell, 
the  former  a  native  of  Maine,  and  the  latter  of 
Tennessee.  The  father  was  three  times  married. 
He  first  wedded  a  Maine  lady,  who  died  in  1812, 
leaving  a  daughter.  In  1813  Mr.  Morrell  left  the 
Pine  Tree  State  and  emigrated  to  New  Haven,  111., 
locating  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Wabash  River, 
above  Cairo,  where  he  lived  for  about  a  year.  He 
then  moved  to  Bolton  House  Prairie,  in  Edwards 
County,  south  of  Albion, and  aided  Joel  Churchill 
in  the  erection  of  the  first  house  built  by  him  at 
Albion.  In  1814  Mr.  Morrell  was  again  married, 
and  five  children  were  born  of  the  second  union, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters.  Winthrop  went  to 
California  in  search  of  gold,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  murdered,  as  nothing  has  since  been 
heard  of  him;  John  was  drowned  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years;  Elizabeth  and  Susan  are  also  de- 
ceased. Jane  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  the 
second  marriage.  She  became  the  wife  of  Peter 
M.  Webb,  and  after  his  death  married  a  Mr. 
Haynes,  and  is  again  a  widow. 

The  second  wife  of  Abraham  Morrell  died  about 
1818;  the  following  year  he  came  to  Richland 
County,  and  here  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Long  in 


1819,  who  came  from  her  native  State  to  Illinois. 
Their  four  children  were  Abraham,  George  W., 
Eliza  and  Sarah.  The  first  was  a  soldier  in  the 
late  war  and  died  from  fever  in  the  hospital  at 
Mound  City,  111.  Eliza  became  the  wife  of  Bud- 
dington  Kenyon,  and  after  their  arrival  in  Wood- 
stock, Wis.,  she  died,  leaving  six  children:  Na- 
thaniel, George,  Mary,  Eugene,  Zedadiah  and 
Buddington.  The  first-named  was  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war,  and  is  supposed  to  have  died  in 
Salisbury  Prison.  The  others  are  still  living. 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  William  Miller,  by  whom  she 
had  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  The 
Morrell  family  is  noted  for  longevity.  The  grand- 
father, a  native  of  Maine,  died  at  an  advanced 
age,  and  his  brother  reached  the  age  of  one  hun- 
dred and  five  years. 

George  Morrell,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
is  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Richland  County, 
having  here  made  his  home  since  1831.  a  period 
of  sixty-two  years.  He  has  seen  the  county  in  its 
primitive  condition,  when  it  was  full  of  wolves 
and  bears,  deer  and  other  wild  game.  The  set- 
tlers were  widely  scattered  and  one  could  ride  for 
miles  over  the  prairies  without  a  fence  or  build- 
ing to  impede  his  progress.  The  first  barn  built 
on  Sugar  Creek  Prairie  was  erected  on  his  father's 
farm. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  1853,  Elder  Morrell 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Mi.ss  Mary  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Marvin  P.  and  Martha  (Cabbot)  Blood, 
who  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State.  Four  chil- 
dren graced  their  union,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, but  John  M.,  the  eldest,  died  in  his  nine- 
teenth year.  Sarah  Alice  became  the  wife  of 
Charles  Britton,  who  died  in  October,  1884,  leav- 
ing four  children:  Mattliew  B.,  John  L.,  George 
A.  and  Charles  II.  Winthrop  wedded  Miss  Mary 
A.  Combs,  and  witli  their  two  children,  Harry  and 
Ben  ton,  now  reside  in  Hobokeu,  N.  J.  Martha 
Lillie  is  the  wife  of  Alvin  E.  Jenner,  an  operator 
for  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  Railroad  at  Carmi, 
111. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  Elder  Morrell 
united  with  the  Christian  Church,  and  on  at- 
taining to  man's  estate  began  preaching.  Since 
that  time  he  has  followed  the  ministry,  and,  in 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


addition,  he  also  engaged  in  farming  to  some  ex- 
tent for  a  few  years.  For  the  past  twenty  years 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  Olney,  and  was  pastor 
of  the  Christian  Church  in  this  city  for  seven 
years.  He  is  now  engaged  in  evangelistic  work. 
Mr.  Morrell  has  been  an  earnest  laborer  in  the 
Master's  vineyard,  and  in  the  cause  to  which  he 
has  devoted  his  life  he  has  accomplished  much 
good,  adding  nearly  two  thousand  to  the  church. 
In  politics  he  was  long  a  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  but  is  now  identified  with  the  Prohi- 
bition party.  He  owns  a  good  residence  in  Olney, 
and  in  the  city  where  he  has  long  made  his  home 
he  has  the  respect  and  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


**** 


OHN  ROBERTS,  who  devotes  his  time  and 
attention  to  general  farming,  operates  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  section  6,  Noble 
Township,  Richland  County,  where  he  has 
a  pleasant  home  and  all  the  surroundings  of  a 
good  farm.  He  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Ohio,  July  16,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Sargent)  Roberts.  The  family  is  of  Welsh 
descent,  and  the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject died  in  Wales.  The  father  was  born  in  that 
country,  and  in  early  life  was  a  sailor,  but  in  1822 
he  abandoned  the  sea  and  took  up  his  residence 
near  Marietta,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming 
for  some  time.  He  afterward  bought  a  farm  of 
three  hundred  acres  in  Meigs  County,  Ohio,  upon 
which  he  made  his  home  from  1830  until  1869, 
when  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  His  wife  survived 
him  until  1884,  and  passed  away  at  the  age  of 
eighty.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  she  held  membership  with  the  Methodist 
Church.  The  maiden  name  of  Mrs.  Roberts  was 
Sarah  Sargent.  She  was  born  in  AVood  County, 
Va.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Enoch  Sargent,  a  Vir- 
ginian farmer,  who  died  in  his  native  State  at  an 
advanced  age. 


In  the  Roberts  family  were  thirteen  children, 
eight  bons  and  five  daughters:  William;  Thomas, 
deceased;  John;  Robert  and  Frank,  botli  deceased; 
Henry  E.;  Cinderella  and  Elizabeth,  both  of  whom 
have  passed  away;  Rowena,  Adelaide,  Sarah  C. 
and  two  sons  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Roberts,  of  this  sketch,  spent  his  boyhood 
days  in  attending  the  district  schools,  and  work- 
ing on  his  father's  farm  in  Meigs  Count}',  Ohio. 
Under  the  parental  roof  he  remained  until  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  when,  on  the  loth  of  May,  1855, 
he  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Miss  Zim- 
rode  A.  Bicknell,  daughter  of  Nehemiah  and  Julia 
(Larkiu)  Bicknell.  Her  parents  were  natives  of 
Rhode  Island,  but  resided  in  Meigs  County  at  the 
time  of  their  marriage.  Five  children  were  born 
of  that  union:  Arthur  B.,  who  wedded  Miss  Kate 
Rowland,  of  Oluey;  Zimrode  E.,  the  wife  of 
Fletcher  Jacques,  of  Owensville,  Ind.,  by  whom 
she  has  two  children,  Mary  and  Stewart;  Albert  J., 
who  married  Miss  Kittie  M.  Gifford,  April  18, 
1893,  and  resides  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  and  two 
sons  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  this 
family  was  called  to  her  final  home  in  1870,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-four  years.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Roberts  was  again 
married,  April  11,  1872,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Fannie  V.,  daughter  of  Rodocquey  Nye. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  three  sons  and  a 
daughter:  Alma,  Frank,  Willie  and  Charlie. 

After  his  first  marriage,  Mr.  Roberts  removed  to 
West  Virginia,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
boating.  For  about  sixteen  years  during  the  win- 
ter seasons,  he  propelled  a  flatboat.  The  year 
1864  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Illinois.  Here  he 
purchased  land,  to  which  he  has  added  until  now 
two  hundred  acres  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He  has  a 
fine  orchard  covering  twenty-five  acres,  and  other 
good  improvements  are  upon  the  place. 

Mr.  Roberts,  his  wife  and  daughter  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  Class- leader  and  Steward  for  some 
years.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  church  work, 
and  has  been  a  faithful  laborer  in  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  Socially,  he  is  connected  with  No- 
ble Lodge,  No.  362,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Richland  Chap- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


585 


ter  No.  38,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Gorin  Commandery  No. 
14,  K.  T.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  ill 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  held 
various  local  offices.  In  1882  and  1883  he  served 
as  Supervisor,  and  is  now  acting  as  Highway 
Commissioner.  Those  who  know  Mr.  Roberts  es- 
teem him  highly  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
strict  integrity,  and  he  is  accounted  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  Noble  Township. 


'  i  ACKSON  TREXLER,  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing and  representative  farmers  of  Jasper 
I  County,  who  resides  on  section  33,  North 
Muddy  Township,  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  Ohio  has  furnished  to  Illinois.  He 
was  born  in  Jackson  Count}',  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
June  20,1828.  His  grandfather,  Emanuel  Trexler, 
was  born  in  Germany,  but,  for  many  years  resided 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  later  days  were  spent  in 
Ohio.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  but  he  also 
dealt  in  salt  in  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and  probably 
built  the  first  house  in  that  place.  He  reared  a 
large  family  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

His  son,  Jonathan  Trexler,  was  born  in  the 
Keystone  State,  and  during  his  childhood  went 
with  his  parents  to  Jackson  County,  Ohio.  He  was 
reared  as  a  farmer's  son,  and  there  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  1853.  In  the  meantime  he 
married  Rachel  Martin,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
They  became  the  parents  of  ten  children,  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  seven  are  now 
living:  Jonathan,  now  a  resident  of  Efh'ngham 
County,  111.;  Mary,  widow  of  Thomas  Foster,  of 
North  Muddy  Township;  Johnson,  a  farmer  of 
North  Muddy  Township;  Jackson;  William,  who  is 
farming  in  Marion  County.  Ore.;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Dr.  James  B.  Johnson,  of  Jackson,  Ohio;  and 
Rachel,  wife  of  John  Toland,  of  North  Muddy 
Township.  In  1853,  Jonathan  Trexler  emigrated 
with  his  family  to  Jasper  County,  111.,  and  located 
in  North  Muddy  Township.  lie  entered  between 
two  hundred  and  three  hundred  acres  of  laud  and 


purchased  two  hundred  acres  on  section  2,  range 
8  east,  in  town  6,  developing  the  same  into  a 
fine  farm.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent  and 
thrifty  farmers  of  this  locality.  In  the  War  of 
1812  he  had  served  as  a  soldier.  He  died  in  1878 
at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years.  His  wife,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  passed 
away  about  fourteen  years  previous. 

Jackson  Trexler,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
lived  quietly  upon  his  father's  farm  during  the 
days  of  his  childhood  and  gained  a  good  English 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
State.  After  attaining  to  man's  estate  he  was 
united  in  marriage,  December  12,  1852,  with  Miss 
Louisa  Mercer,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna 
(Day)  Mercer.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State,  but  in  an  early  day  removed  to 
Jackson  County,  Ohio.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Trexler,  in  company  with  his  brother  Vinton,  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Ohio,  and  his  father  also  gave 
him  a  tract  of  land,  but  in  the  fall  of  1853  he  sold 
his  property  in  the  Buckeye  State  and  came  to  Ill- 
inois to  try  his  fortune.  In  Jasper  County  he  en- 
tered two  hundred  acres  of  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment and  afterward  purchased  an  additional  sixty 
acres.  He  has  since  bought  and  sold  a  considera- 
ble amount  and  has  given  not  a  little  to  his  chil- 
dren. His  landed  possessions  now  aggregate  two 
hundred  and  seventy  acres.  The  greater  part  of 
this  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved  with  all  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm. 

In  1867  Mr.  Trexler  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
death  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  22d  of  December, 
in  the  faith  of  the  Christian  Church,  of  which  she 
was  a  consistent  member.  They  had  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  Nottingham 
and  Ida  Catherine  are  now  deceased,  the  former 
having  passed  away  at  two  years  of  age,  and  the 
latter  when  a  year  old.  Elizabeth  Ann,  the  eldest 
child,  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Toland,  a  farmer  of 
North  Muddy  Township,  by  whom  she  has  five 
children:  Florence  Olive,  Gilbert,  Arthur,  Claude 
and  May.  Rachel  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  C.  Pick- 
ens,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  North  Muddy 
Township.  They  have  three  sons,  Darwin,  Cecil 
and  Ernest.  Stanton  is  yet  at  home.  On  the 


586 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


26th  of  January,  1869,  Mr.  Trexler  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Deborah 
Lake,  widow  of  James  Lake,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Annie  (Chezem)  Bonce,  who  were  na- 
tives of  I  ndiaua.  Mrs.  Trexler  had  one  child  by 
her  former  marriage,  James  A.  Lake,  who  married 
Miss  Viola  Gurrell,  and  is  living  three  and  a-half 
miles  from  Wheeler.  They  have  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Verda  Edith,  born  February  17,  1893. 
Five  children  graced  the  second  union:  Elmer  C., 
who  on  April  2,  1893,  married  Miss  Naomi  I). 
Gillson,  daughter  of  William  C.  Gillson,  of  North 
Muddy  Township;  Jane;  Nora,  deceased;  Vinton, 
also  deceased;  and  Clinton  J. 

Mr.  Trexler  has  resided  upon  the  farm  which  is 
still  his  home  for  forty  years.  When  he  first  came 
to  the  county  it  was  in  a  wild  and  primitive  con- 
dition. Deer  and  all  kinds  of  wild  game  could  be 
had  in  abundance  and  wolves  were  numerous. 
The  first  barrel  ol  Hour  which  he  bought  after 
coming  here  he  had  to  haul  by  wagon  from  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  a  distance  of  sixty-five  miles.  He  has 
seen  the  entire  development  of  the  county  and  as 
a  good  citizen  has  aided  in  its  development  and 
upbuilding.  Success  has  attended  his  business  ef- 
forts and  he  now  has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in 
North  Muddy  Township.  In  politics  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  are 
people  whose  many  excellencies  of  character  have 
won  them  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles 
and  gained  them  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
they  have  been  brought  in  contact. 


IRAM  H.  KINGSBURY,  a  police  magistrate 
of  Olney,  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Meigs 
County,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1840.  The 
Kingsburj'  family  is  numbered  among  the  early 
Colonial  families  of  New  England,  having  been 
founded  in  America  by  three  brothers,  who  emi- 


grated from  England  to  the  New  World  in  the  sev- 
enteenth century.  The  parents  of  our  subject,  liar- 
ley  and  Rhoda  (Castle)  Kingsbury,  were  both  born 
in  New  England,  as  was  also  the  paternal  grand- 
father of  Hiram.  The  latter  served  in  the  Wai  of 
1812,  fighting  the  Indians  under  William  Henry 
Harrison.  He  died  in  the  struggle,  and  was  buried 
near  the  Tippecanoe  battlefield.  His  family  num- 
bered four  sons.  In  an  early  day,  Harle}'  Kings- 
bury  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  near  Chester  followed 
farming.  There  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three 
daughters  was  born,  namely:  Wooster  P.,  Harley, 
Lucy  C.,  Rhoda  H.,  Mary  P.,  Hiram  H.,  Austin  G. 
and  Orin.  Harley  was  killed  in  battle  in  front  of 
Atlanta,  July  22,  1864;  Lucy  was  married,  but  is 
now  deceased;  and  Orin  died  in  childhood.  The 
others  are  all  married  and  have  families. 

In  the  spring  of  1846,  Harley  Kingsbury  left 
Ohio  and  removed  to  Mt.  Carmel,  111.,  where  he 
spent  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Richland  County, 
locating  at  what  is  known  as  Old  Prairieton,  nine 
miles  from  Olney,  where  he  opened  a  general 
store.  He  hauled  his  first  stock  of  goods  from 
Evansvilles,  Ind.,  For  a  period  of  twenty  years  he 
there  engaged  in  business,  after  which  he  went  to 
Fnendsville,  in  Wabash  County,  for  the  sake  of  ed- 
ucating his  children  in  the  Presbyterian  College 
there.  His  first  wife  died  in  1846,  soon  after  their 
arrival  at  Mt.  Carrael.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  In  1848,  Mr.  Kingsbury 
wedded  Mrs.  Mary  Hennesee,  daughter  of  Rev. 
John  Dollahan,  who  lived  five  miles  north  of 
Lawrenceville.  They  had  nine  children:  Emma 
E.,  Robert  W.,  Orin  C.  (who  died  in  childhood), 
John  D.,  George  C.,  Joseph,  Frank,  and  two  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  father  of  this  family  passed 
awajr  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  He 
too  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Hiram  H.  Kingsbury  was  reared  to  manhood 
under  the  parental  roof, and  in  the  common  schools 
acquired  a  good  education.  During  his  boyhood, 
he  worked  on  a  farm,  but  when  about  seventeen 
years  of  age  began  clerking  in  his  father's  store, 
and  followed  that  business  four  years. 

At  the  first  call  for  soldiers  in  the  late  war,  Mr. 
Kingsbuiy  left  Richland  County,  and  enlisted  in 
Company  D,  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  "Un- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


587 


cle"  Dick  Oglesby.  He  served  for  three  months, 
during  which  time  his  health  became  so  perma- 
nently impaired,  that  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  for 
two  years  afterwards.  In  the  summer  of  1863,  he 
came  to  Gluey,  and  was  employed  by  A.  B.  Daniels 
as  clerk  in  a  general  store. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1864,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Josephine  McGiffln,  the 
adopted  daughter  of  his  employer,  Mr.  A.  B.  Dan- 
iels. Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven 
children:  Harley  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years;  William  W.,  Edwin  C.,  Nellie  M.,  Annie  E., 
Charles  A.  and  Emma  J.,  and  with  the  exception 
of  the  first-born,  all  are  living. 

Mr.  Kingsbury  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  a  number 
of  responsible  positions.  For  six  years  he  was  City 
Treasurer,  was  agent  of  the  Adams  Express  Com- 
pany for  two  and  a-half  years  at  Olney,  and  has 
served  as  City  Clerk  and  Alderman,  and  is  now 
serving  as  Police  Magistrate,  having  filled  the  office 
for  two  years.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Eli 
Bowyer  Post  No.  92,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  his  wife 
and  two  eldest  children  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  Mr.  Kingsbury  is  a  pleasant, 
genial  gentleman,  and  has  many  friends  through- 
out the  community. 


aJ  RNOLD  MATTINGLY  is  a  blacksmith  and 
Ol  wagon-maker  of  Noble.  He  has  followed 
this  business  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  life,  and  has  now  a  nourishing  trade, 
which  yields  to  him  a  good  income.  Ilono-able 
and  upright  in  all  his  dealings,  he  has  the  confi- 
dence of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact,  and  therefore  has  gained  a  large  number 
of  customers. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Meade  County,  Ky., 
.January  23,  1839.  His  giandfather,  Nathan  Mat- 
tingly,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  became  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Kentucky,  where  for 
many  years  he  followed  fanning.  He  died  in  that 

31 


State  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-eight,  and  his 
father  reached  the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred 
and  eight  years.  Stephen  A.  Mattingly,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  a  fanner  in  Kentucky  when  the 
late  war  broke  out.  He  abandoned  the  plow  to 
become  a  member  of  Company  G,  First  Kentucky 
Cavalry,  in  which  he  did  service  for  the  Union. 
Removing  to  Indiana,  he  made  his  home  in  the 
Hoosier  State  for  a  time,  but  afterward  returned 
to.the  State  of  his  nativity.  He  married  Nancy 
Hardesty,  who  died  in  1842,  leaving  two  children: 
Sarah  Ann,  who  is  now  the  widow  of  Patrick  Mul- 
lin,  and  resides  in  Mt.  Sterling,  111.;  and  Arnold. 
Mr.  Mattingly  afterward  wedded  Sarah  Hardesty, 
a  cousin  of  his  first  wife,  and  they  had  two  chil- 
dren: George  Henry,  a  carpenter  of  Owensboro, 
Ky.;  and  Mary,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Mat- 
tingly died  in  Concordia,  Ky.,  in  1890,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  first  four- 
teen years  of  his  life  in  his  native  State,  and  there 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmithing  and  wagon- 
making,  which  he  has  followed  continuously  since, 
with  the  exception  of  about  three  years  spent  in 
the  army.  He  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Thirty-fifth 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  took  part  in  twenty-seven 
important  battles  and  a  number  of  skirmishes,  but 
was  never  wounded.  He  was  always  faithful  to 
his  post,  valiantly  defending  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  1865,  soon  after  his  return, 
Mr.  Mattingly  was  united  in  marriage  with  Luti- 
cia,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Gilliland)  Cart,  of 
Perry  County,  Ind.  Nine  children  were  born  unto 
them.  The  eldest,  Ida,  is  the  wife  of  Samuel 
Strickland,  who  is  in  the  employ  of  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company,  and  is  a  resident 
of  Noble;  they  have  two  children,  Blanche  and 
Guy.  Sarah  F.,  Joseph  and  Eliza  are  now  de- 
ceased. George  is  the  next  younger.  Sula.  is  the 
wife  of  Matthew  Stuart,  who  resides  near  Noble. 
Nancy,  Charlie  and  Eva  complete  the  family. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Mattingly  resided  for  four 
years  in  Rono,  Ind.,  and  in  1869  came  to  Noble, 
Richland  County,  111.  Two  years  later  he  removed 
to  Kansas,  but  not  liking  that  country,  remained 
but  a  few  months,  when  he  returned  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Noble.  After  a  residence  of  fifteen  months 


588 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


at  this  place  he  returned  to  Indiana,  remaining 
four  years,  when  he  left  there  and  for  the  third 
time  came  to  Noble,  where  he  has  made  his  home 
continuously  since,  carrying  on  business  as  before 
stated.  Besides  his  home,  he  owns  his  blacksmith 
shop  and  three  town  lots.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  in  his  social  relations  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  belonging  to  Noble  Lodge  No.  482,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  Rebecca  Lodge.  He  also  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 
He  and  his  wife  are  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church,  in  which  he  has 
filled  the  oftice  of  Deacon  for  twenty  years.  Their 
lives  have  been  well  and  worthily  passed,  and  their 
many  excellencies  of  character  have  gained  for 
them  the  warm  regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


BAPTIST  CHURCH  of  Efflngham  was 
organized  in  1861  by  Elder  Uriah  McKay 
and  an  ecclesiastical  council  composed  of 
Rev.  Mr.  McKay ,W.  C.  Mitchell,  John  W.  Cleveland, 
J.  W.  Billingsley  and  John  Verplank.  The  orig- 
inal members  were  L.  R.  McMurray,  Elizabeth 
McMurray,  D.  W.  Bouland,  Catherine  Bouland, 
W.  P.  Surrells,  S.  V.  Surrells,  P.  P.  McCain,  Grace 
McCain,  Giles  Baldwin,  Sarah  Baldwin,  Mrs.  D.  D. 
Bouland  and  H.  N.  Leland,  together  with  Elder 
McKay.  The  pastors  have  been  Elder  Uriah  Mc- 
Kay, E.  S.  Graham,  I.  S.  McHan,  A.  Rhodes, 
Stephen  Wilson,  W.  H.  Wilson  and  I.  H.  Elkin. 

The  society  was  originally  organized  at  the  resi- 
dence of  W.  P.  Surrells,  where  services  were  held 
for  one  month.     Later  a  house  on  the  west  side  of 
the   Illinois  Railroad  was  used;  then    the    court 
house  was  occupied  until  1866,  when  a  church  edi- 
fice was  erected.     This  was  built  of  brick  at  a  cost 
of  $6,000,  and  stands  on   a   lot  donated  for   the 
purpose   by  Alexander  Little.     The    first    officers 
we  re ;  Rev.  Mr.  McKay,  moderator;  \V.  P.  Surrells, 
clerk;  Giles   Baldwin,   H.    B.  Wagner    and   Jesse 


Said,  deacons;  A.  Wilson,  L.  R.  McMurray  and 
Joshua  Bradley,  trustees.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  ninety,  and  an  average  attendance  at 
Sunday-school  of  seventy-five. 


ENRY  F.  BROOKS  owns  and  operates  a 
good  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty-eight 
acres  of  rich  land,  situated  on  section  6, 
jlt)j  Crooked  Creek  Township,  and  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  and  progressive  agriculturists  of  Jas- 
per County.  He  is  also  one  of  her  native  sons, 
having  been  born  on  the  old  homestead  on  the 
28th  of  January,  1849.  His  father,  Eliphaz  Brooks, 
was  one  of  the  honored  early  settlers  of  the  county, 
who  located  here  in  1840.  He  was  a  good  business 
man,  opened  up  a  large  farm,  and  by  his  well-di- 
rected efforts  accumulated  a  comfortable  property. 
His  last  days  were  spent  in  retirement  in  Newton, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1886. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  no  event  of  special 
importance  occurring  to  vary  the  daily  routine. 
In  the  summer  months  he  aided  in  cultivating  the 
land,  for  as  soon  as  old  enough  to  handle  the 
plow,  he  began  work  in  the  fields,  and  in  the  win- 
ter season  attended  the  district  schools,  which  af- 
forded him  his  educational  privileges,  lie  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  he  arrived  at  man's 
estate,  and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  February  19,  1870,  with 
Miss  PluEbe  Ellen  Cowger,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
When  three  years  old  she  was  brought  hy  her  fa- 
ther, Jonathan  Cowger,  to  Illinois,  the  family  lo- 
cating in  Jasper  County  in  1853. 

The  3'ear  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Brooks  located 
upon  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home.  It  was 
then  a  tract  of  raw  land,  entirely  destitute  of  im- 
provement, but  he  cleared  and  fenced  it,  plowed 
and  planted  his  land,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
abundant  harvests  were  garnered  as  the  rewaid  of 
his  labors.  As  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased he  has  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


589 


until  it  now  comprises  two  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  acres,  of  which  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
(iood  buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  are  there  to  be  found,  and  the  neat  and 
thrifty  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the  enter- 
prise of  the  owner. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  have  been  born  three 
children :  Rachel  Arminda,  wife  of  Ezekiel  Nichols, 
a  farmer  of  Crooked  Creek  Township,  by  whom  she 
has  one  child;  Rosa  and  William  Milton.  They  lost 
their  eldest  child,  a  daughter,  Sarah  Catherine,  who 
grew  to  womanhood,  became  the  wife  of  Fountain 
Clark,  of  Jasper  County,  and  died  in  1890. 

Mr.  Brooks  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he 
has  affiliated  since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Gen. 
Grant  in  1872.  We  find  in  our  subject  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  manifests  a 
commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community.  He  is  also  a  self-made 
man,  whose  success  in  life  is  due  to  his  own  ef- 
forts. His  labor  and  enterprise  have  served  him 
as  stepping-stones  to  something  higher,  and  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  has  ac- 
cumulated a  large  and  valuable  property,  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of 
Jasper  County.  During  the  fall  of  1892  Mr.' 
Brooks  and  his  wife  made  a  trip  through  Iowa 
and  Nebraska,  spending  about  three  weeks  in  travel. 
This  worthy  couple  are  well  known  in  this  com- 
munity, and  are  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all. 


EV.  WILLIAM  VAN  CLEVE,  of  Olney,  has 
for  thirty  years  been  a  faithful  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is 
now  Presiding  Elder  for  the  Olney  District. 
His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Mor- 
ris County,  N.  J.,  March  5,  1834,  and  grew  to 
manhood  near  Newark,  in  his  native  State,  where 
he  also  received  his  education.  His  father  was  Gar- 


ret Van  Cleve,  and  his  great-grandfather  bore  the 
same  name.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  Holland  and 
came  to  this  country  in  Colonial  days,  settling  in 
New  Jersey.  Members  of  the  family  fought  in 
the  war  for  independence,  the  grandfather  being 
a  soldier  under  Washington  in  that  Revolutionary 
struggle. 

Garret  Van  Cleve,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
married  Miss  Maria,  daughter  of  John  Romine, 
who  came  from  an  early  New  Jersey  family  of 
English  origin.  The  great-grandparents,  grand- 
parents and  parents  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Cleve 
are  all  buried  in  the  same  cemetery  near  Pater- 
son,  N.  J.  He  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children 
who  grew  to  mature  years,  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  but  he  and  an  elder  brother,  Joseph 
Van  Cleve,  are  now  the  only  survivors.  The  lat- 
ter is  a  resident  of  Irvington,  N.  J. 

In  1855,  on  attaining  his  majority,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Van  Cleve  left  his  old  home  and,  emigrating  West- 
ward, settled  in  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  County, 
III.,  where  he  entered  the  ministry.  His  first 
charge  was  in  Pocahontas,  Bond  County,  and  his 
second  in  Murphysboro,  Jackson  County.  He  then 
received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  church  in 
Chester,  the  county  seat  of  Randolph  County, 
after  which  he  performed  the  duties  of  the  pas- 
torate in  Ashley,  Washington  County.  In  leav- 
ing that  place  he  became  the  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Marion,  the  county  seat  of 
Williamson  County,  and  later  he  was  the  pastor 
at  Spring  Garden,  Jefferson  County,  whence  he 
went  to  Mt.  Vernon.  His  next  charge  was  in  Sa- 
lem, Marion  Count}7,  after  which  he  preached  in 
Clement,  Clinton  County,  and  in  Shiloh,  St.  Clair 
Count}'.  He  then  returned  to  Clinton  County, 
but  this  time  was  pastor  in  Trenton.  Subsequently 
he  went  to  Mulberry  Grove,  Bond  County,  then 
to  Staunton,  Macoupin  County,  and  later  to  Bun- 
ker Mill.  In  1883  he  was  appointed  Presiding 
Elder  of  the  Mt.  Carmel  District,  and  there  con- 
tinued until  1887.  His  next  charge  was  at  Mt. 
Carmel  Station,  in  Wabash  County,  aftei  which  he 
went  to  Carmi,  White  County.  In  1890  he  was 
appointed  to  his  present  position  and  removed  to 
Olney. 

In  185C  the  Rev.  Mr,  Van  Cleve  was  united   in 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD 


marriage  with  Miss  Sarali  E.  Callawa}*,  who  was 
born  February  14,  1839,  in  Jersey  Count3",  III. 
They  have  a  family  of  ten  children,  six  sons  and 
four  daughters:  Joseph,  who  is  now  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Mt.  Vernon;  Maria  Lenora, 
wife  of  John  F.  Hume,  of  Bunker  Hill,  III.;  Ed- 
ward E.,  superintendent  of  the  city  schools  of 
Carmi,  111.;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  James  H.  Kirk,  of  En- 
field,  White  County,  111.;  Samuel  M.,  Rose,  Benja- 
min P.,  Grace,  Gilbert  H.  and  Charles  MeCabe. 
The  Rev.  William  Van  Cleve  has  been  a  faith- 
ful laborer  in  the  cause  of  Christianity  for  thirty 
years,  and  his  duties,  whether  those  of  a  regular 
minister  or  a  Presiding  Elder,  have  ever  been 
discharged  in  a  most  conscientious  and  faithful 
manner. 


T.  ANTHONY'S  ROMAN  CATHOLIC 
CHURCH,  of  Efflngham,  of  which  Rev. 
Father  Hermann  Jungmann  is  rector,  was 
founded  in  1853.  Prior  to  that  time  the 
few  Catholic  families  in  this  vicinity  were  visited 
at  intervals  by  clergymen  of  the  Diocese  of  Alton. 
Services  were  held  in  a  small  log  house  in  the  rear 
of  Funkhauser's  store.  In  1858  the  Catholics 
were  encouraged  by  Father  Frauenhofer,  who  re- 
sided at  that  time  in  the  Green  Creek  settlement 
and  was  rector  there,  to  build  a  church  edifice.  The 
plan  was  carried  out  under  Rev.  Father  Bartels, 
the  zealous  rector  of  the  congregation  at  Teutopo- 
lis,  who  in  the  spring  of  1858  laid  the  corner-stone 
of  the  old  church  of  St.  Anthony's  congregation, 
at  present  the  schoolhouse  of  that  church.  In  the 
autumn  of  that  year  the  reverend  fathers  of  the 
order  of  St.  Francis  took  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  Teutopolis,  where  a  convent  had  been  built. 
From  the  convent  the  neighboring  Catholic  con- 
gregations were  attended  as  missions  by  the  rever- 
end fathers,  and  among  others  St.  Anthony's 
Church  in  Effingham  became  their  charge.  The 
Rev.  Father  Capestran  said  the  first  mass  in  the 
new  church  on  Christmas  morning  of  1858.  In 


succession  these  Franciscan  Fathers  had  charge  of 
this  church:  the  Rev.  Fathers  Servatius,  llenbert, 
llayiierius,  Killian,  Ferdinand,  and  Rev.  Killinn 
for  a  second  term. 

In  September,  1871,  Rev.  Michael  Weis,  secular 
priest  of  the  Alton  Diocese,  was  appointed  Rector 
of  St.  Anthony's  congregation  of  Effingham  and 
served  until  the  23d  of  March,  1877,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Hermann  Jungmann,  who 
has  continued  to  fill  that  position  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time,  covering  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  When 
the  first  church  was  built  the  following-named 
Catholic  families  resided  at  or  near  Eftingham: 
C.  and  Joseph  Bloemer  and  their  mother  (widow 
of  Arnold  Bloemer),  Henry  Herboth,  Bernard 
Hille,  Willenborg,  Fred.  Thoele,  Ferdinand  Mers- 
mann,  II.  H.  Dust,  Bernard  Dassenbrook,  Ferdi- 
nand Braun,  Joseph  Feldhake, Ihe  Koesters,  Bues- 
sing,  Husraann,  Mathias  Monening,  J.  F.  Schwer- 
man,  Knage,  Herman  Fechtrup,  Gerhard  Oethoff, 
Mindrup,  Vogt,  Gcbben  Vogt,  Frank  Hoffman, 
William  Mersmann,  H.  Haarmaun,  B.  Kcmper,  Ger- 
hard II.,  John,  Bernard  and  Herman  Ney,  John 
Fechtrup.  Arnold  Kreke,  Bernard  Detters,  Dre3r- 
mann  Althoff  Mette— about  forty  families  in  all. 
The  congregation  grew  rapidly  as  the  town  grew, 
and  in  the  course  of  time  the  church  was  found  to 
be  too  small  for  the  congregation,  hence  under  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Father  Weis  the  present  large 
and  magnificent  church  was  erected  and  completed 
in  1875.  The  new  church  was  duly  dedicated  on 
the  13th  of  June  of  that  year  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Joseph  Baltes,  Bishop  of  Alton,  to  whose  diocese 
St.  Anthony's  belongs.  The  church  is  a  large,  el- 
egant and  imposing  structure,  an  ornament  to  the 
city  and  an  honor  to  the  Catholic  inhabitants.  Its 
size  is  66x165  feet, and  the  steeple  rears  its  crest  to 
the  height  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-one  feet 
without  cross  or  vane.  The  cost  was  about  $50,- 
000.  The  number  of  families  claiming  member- 
ship is  about  one  hundred  and  eighty,  compiling 
about  one  thousand  persons.  The  Lay  Trustees 
are  at  present  J.  J.  Feldhake  and  Arnold  Kreke. 

The  parochial  school  was  established  at  the  or- 
ganization of  the  congregation  and  has  been  in  op- 
eration since  about  1858.  Since  the  advent  of 
the  present  rector  it  tuvs  been  conducted  under  his. 


PORTRAIT  AND  MOGRAPH'CAL   RECORD. 


591 


directions  by  one  male  teacher  and  several  Sisters 
of  Notre  Dame.  The  school  consists  of  three  de- 
partments, numbering  about  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty pupils.  In  addition  to  the  church  property, 
the  school  and  other  property  of  the  society  is 
valued  at  about  is  100,000. 


BOBERT   B.   WITCHER,  of  Olney,  a  prom- 
-  -,,      inenl  representative  of  the  Bar  of  Richland 

\\ 

County,  comes  from  the  far  South.  He  is 
native  of  Upshur  County,  Tex.,  his  birth 
having  there  occurred  on  the  15th  of  April,  1855. 
His  paternal  ancestors  for  a  number  of  generations 
were  Virginians,  and  his  grandfather  was  a  native 
of  that  State.  His  father,  however,  Benjamin  W. 
Witcher,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Sarah  Bledsoe. 
He  was  a  planter  by  occupation.  In  1855,  a  short 
time  before  the  birth  of  their  son,  the  parents 
removed  to  Texas,  locating  in  Upshur  Count}7. 
Neither  survived  this  removal  long.  The  mother 
was  called  to  her  final  home  in  about  the  year 
1858,  and  the  death  of  the  father  occurred  in  Sep- 
tember, 1860.  He  was  again  married  after  the 
death  of  his  first  wife.  Our  subject  and  his  two 
sisters  were  then  left  to  the  care  of  a  stepmother, 
who  later  married  again,  and  in  1869  an  uncle 
went  to  Texas  for  the  children  and  took  them 
back  with  him  to  his  home  in  Georgia,  but  the 
stepparents  soon  afterward  removed  to  Florence, 
Ind.,  and  there  the  children  joined  them.  On  leav- 
ing that  State  the  family  took  up  their  residence 
in  Springfield,  Mo. 

While  living  in  Springfield  Mr.  AVitcher  of  this 
sketch  received  excellent  educational  advantages, 
pursuing  a  course  of  study  in  Drury  College, 
where  he  spent  five  years,  graduating  from  that 
institution  in  1876.  On  the  completion  of  his 
college  course,  he  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and 
was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Gazette,  a  news- 
paper of  that  city,  as  a  compositor,  having  pre- 
viously learned  the  printer's  trade.  Hi?  coming 


to  Olney  dates  from  April,  1877.  On  his  arrival 
in  Richland  County  he  entered  upon  the  stud}'  of 
law  with  James  P.  Robinson,  and  in  1879  was  ad- 
mitted by  the  Supreme  Bench  to  practice  in  the 
courts  of  Illinois,  which  work  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed. 

In  1886,  Mr.  Witcher  was  married  in  Pana, 
Christian  County,  1 11.,  to  Miss  Bertha  Kitchell.  Her 
father,  Col.  Ed  ward  Kitchell,  was  one  of  three  broth- 
ers, who  were  prominent  in  the  history  of  Rich- 
land  County.  He  won  the  title  while  commanding 
the  Ninety-eighth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1869.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Witcher  have 
been  born  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter:  Alice 
and  Robert  Kitchell. 

Mr.  Witcher  being  left  without  parents  at  an 
early  age,  was,  in  a  measure  at  least,  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources  when  but  a  boy.  Learning  the 
trade  of  a  compositor,  he  was  thereby  enabled  to 
earn  the  means  to  secure  an  education  and  to  pur- 
sue the  study  of  his  profession.  By  earnest  appli- 
cation to  his  profession  he  has  obtained,  and  justly 
so,  a  prominent  place  in  the  legal  fraternity  of 
southern  Illinois.  He  is  a  worth}-  member  of  Mar- 
mion  Lodge  No.  52,  K.  P.,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
order  of  Modern  Woodmen.  In  his  political  affil- 
iations he  is  a  Democrat.  He  served  as  District 
Attorney  for  Richland  County  from  1884  until 
1888,  and  was  Master  in  Chancery  for  eight  years, 
beginning  in  1882.  The  duties  of  both  positions 
he  discharged  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner. 


T.  FRANCIS'  ROMAN  CATHOLIC 
CHURCH,  of  Teutopolis,  which  was  form- 
erly known  as  St.  Peter's,  is  one  of  the  lar- 
gest and  most  elegantly  furnished  churches 
in  the  State.  The  house  of  worship,  which  is  of 
brick,  was  erected  in  1850,  and  was  consecrated 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  D.  Junker,  First  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  Alton.  An  addition  to  the 
sanctuary  was  built  in  1872. 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Many  congregations  have  been  taken  from  that  at 
Tcutopolis,  namely:  Ktfingham  (at  that  time  called 
Broughton)  in  1859,  Bishop  in  1864,  Sigel  and 
Neoga  in  1856,  Lillyville  in  1877,  Island  Grove  in 
1874  and  Montrose  in  1879.  The  pastors  were  sec- 
ular priests  until  1858,  at  which  time  the  Fran- 
ciscan Fathers  took  charge.  The  first  pastor  of 
that  order  was  Rev.  Damian  Hennewig,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Mathias  Hiltermann,  Rev. 
Gerard  Becker,  Rev.  Damasus,  Rev.  Dominicus,  Rev. 
Paulus  Ternerde,  and  Rev.  Seraphinus  Lampe,  who 
served  from  January,  1887,  until  August,  1888, 
when  Father  Paulus  Tero?rde  returned,  and  has 
since  been  rector  of  the  church  and  guardian  of 
the  convent  of  St.  Francis.  The  present  Board  of 
Trustees  are,  J.  H.  Weber,  John  Runde,  John 
Adam,  and  John  Vormer.  The  present  congregation 
embraces  about  two  hundred  and  forty  German 
families,  and  about  ten  Irish  families.  About  two 
hundred  and  fifty  children  are  attending  the  schools 
and  receiving  religious  instruction. 

There  are  six  schools  in  the  parish  of  St.  Francis, 
four  in  the  village  and  two  in  the  country.  Three 
of  the  village  schools  are  taught  by  the  Sisters  of 
Notre  Dame,  and  are  held  in  the  convent  building. 
Their  pupils  are  the  girls  and  smaller  boys.  The 
fourth  village  school  is  a  fine  brick  structure  adja- 
cent to  the  church,  where  the  larger  boys  attend,  and 
which  is  taught  by  a  male  teacher,  Louis  Rieg,  who 
is  also  organist  in  t'ne  church.  The  two  country 
schools  are  taught  by  Catholic  young  ladies,  Miss 
Rose  Gardenine  and  Miss  Annie  Mulvaney.  All  are 
district  schools  and  are  conducted  under  the  State 
law. 

The  value  of  the  church  and  furniture  is  about 
$25, 000.  The  school  for  the  larger  boys  cost 
about  $5,000,  and  the  others  conducted  by  the 
sisters  about  $14,000.  All  are  the  property  of  the 
church.  Those  in  the  country  were  built  by  the 
districts.  The  directors  of  the  schools  are  all  Cath- 
olics, and  the  attendance  almost  exclusively  from 
Catholic  families. 

Various  societies  connected  with  the  church  in- 
clude St.  Peter's  Sodality  for  married  men,  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  members;  St.  Mary's  Mother 
Society,  two  hundred  members;  St  John's  Sodality 
for  young  men,  sevent}'  members;  St.  Rose  Sodal- 


ity for  young  ladies,  sixty  members;  and  the  Third 
Order  of  St.  Francis,  which  is  composed  of  lay 
members  and  which  has  a  membership  of  eighty. 
Substantial  improvements  have  been  made  by  the 
present  rector,  and  all  relating  to  church,  convents 
and  schools  is  in  a  prosperous  and  thriving  con- 
dition. 


)HE  SISTERS'  SCHOOL,  formerly  also  known 
as  St.  Mary's  Academy  of  Teutopolis,  un- 
der  the  supervision  of  the  Sisters  of  Notre 
Dame,  is  presided  over  by  Sister  Verena,  Mother 
Superior.  This  institution  was  founded  in  Decem- 
ber, 1861,  by  sisters  from  the  Institute  of  St. 
Mary's,  of  Milwaukee,  of  the  Order  of  Notre  Dame, 
under  Sister  Marguerite  Mueller,  Mother  Superior, 
who  was  accompanied  by  Sister  Mauritia  Ultz- 
mann,  and  the  candidate,  Marguerite  Rudolph. 

For  the  first  six  years,  the  sisters  occupied  the 
large  two  story-brick  house  opposite  the  church. 
In  1867,  their  present  commodious  two-story  brick 
structure,  situated  near  St.  Francis'  Church,  was 
erected  by  the  congregation.  Two  of  the  lower,  and 
one  of  the  upper,  story  rooms  are  used  for  school 
purposes,  and  the  others  as  a  residence  for  the 
sisters,  except  one  in  the  upper  story  used  as  a 
chapel.  The  institution,  which  was  formerly  an 
academy  for  young  ladies,  is  taught  by  the  sisters  in 
all  elementary  branches,  including  music  and  fancy 
needle  work,  and  is  recognized  by  the  authorities 
as  a  district  school,  under  a  regularly  constituted 
school  board  elected  by  the  people.  The  convent 
proper  is  a  branch  of  St.  Mary's  Convent,  of 
Notre  Dame,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  which  is  the 
mother  convent,  having  general  supervision  of  its 
management.  There  are  seven  sisters  now  resi- 
dents of  the  Tcutopolis  Convent,  three  of  whom 
are  employed  in  teaching. 

Sister  Verena,  D.  N.  D.,of  Notre  Dame  Convent, 
Teutopolis,  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  born 
in  the  village  of  Gross  Embach,  November  28,  1841. 
When  three  years  of  age,  she  accompanied  her 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


593 


parents  to  America.  The  family  settled  in  Balti- 
more, where  she  began  school  life  under  the  care 
of  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame.  In  1859,  she  went 
to  Milwaukee,  where  she  became  a  student  of  St. 
Mary's  Institute  of  the  Order  of  Notre  Dame. 
The  following  year  she  became  a  teacher  in  the 
Milwaukee  schools,  and  in  1861  was  assigned  to  a 
position  in  the  schools  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  where 
she  taught  for  seven  years.  She  then  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  where  she  was  made  Lady  Superior  of 
the  Sisters'  Convent  in  Kenosha,  where  she  con- 
tinued until  1873.  She  was  then  assigned  to  the 
Convent  of  Notre  Dame,  of  which  she  has  since 
served  as  Lady  Superior. 


T.  FRANCIS'  CONVENT, of  Teutopolis,  is 
the  home  of  the  Fathers  and  Brothers  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Francis.  It  was  founded 
in  this  place  in  September,- 1858,  and  was 
then  a  branch  of  the  Province  of  the  Holy  Cross, 
of  Saxony,  which  Province  was  erected  in  1221, 
during  the  life  of  St.  Francis  of  Cissi,  founder  of 
the  order  of  Franciscans.  The  first  members  that 
arrived  in  Teutopolis  came  at  the  request  of  Rt. 
Rev.  Damian  Junker,  First  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Alton.  Rev.  Damian  Hennewig  (who  died  De- 
cember 12.  1865).  Rev.  Servatius  Almicks,  Rev. 
Capistran  Zwinge  and  three  lay  brothers  were  the 
first  Franciscans  who  came  to  this  place.  They 
came  from  Warendorf,  Westphalia,  German}'. 

In  1859,  a  two-story  frame  house  of  thirteen 
rooms  was  built  and  several  additional  members  of 
the  order  arrived.  Subsequently  suljstantial  and 
commodious  brick  buildings  were  erected,  until  in 
1868  the  convent  contained  fifty-eight  rooms. 
Many  brothers  joined  the  convent  from  Germany 
as  well  as  from  this  country.  In  July,  1875,  an 
unusually  large  number  arrived,  owing  to  appre- 
hensive laws  passed  in  Germany  in  1873.  In  July, 
1875,  one  hundred  and  six  came  and  sought  shel- 
ter at  the  Teutopolis  Convent. 


Up  to  this  time  the  following  convents  had 
sprung  up  as  offshots  from  that  of  Teutopolis, 
namely:  that  of  Quincy,  111.,  in  1859;  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  in  1863;  College  in  Teutopolis,  in  1861 ;  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  in  1868;  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  1869; 
and  Herman,  Mo.,  in  1875.  As  so  many  new 
members  were  added,  the  Franciscans  built  in  1865 
convents  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  Chicago,  111.,  Ra- 
dom,  III.,  Rhineland,  Wis.,  St.  Mary's,  Mo., Colum- 
bus and  St.  Bernard,  Neb.,  Jordan,  Minn.,  Joliet, 
III.,  and  Chillicothe,  Mo.;  they  also  built  Indian 
missions  at  Keshena,  Minn.,  and  Bayfield,  Chaska 
and  Superior  City,  Wis.  The  members  had  in- 
creased from  six  to  four  hundred.  Therefore  a  new 
Province,  under  the  title  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  was 
erected  April  26,  1879.  A  decree  was  issued  by 
the  Pope,  and  on  the  2d  of  July  of  the  same  year 
the  new  Provincial  or  Superior  was  installed  in 
Teutopolis.  Teutopolis  is  the  Mother  House,  as  it 
is  called,  of  this  branch  of  the  Franciscans.  It 
contains  the  novitiate,  where  the  aspirants  are  tried 
for  one  year  to  test  their  fitness  for  monastic  life. 
Rhetoric  was  formerly  taught  in  the  house  as  a 
preparation  for  ministerial  duties,  but  is  now 
taught  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  The  course  of  phil- 
osophy is  taught  in  Quincy,  and  theology  in  St. 
Louis.  At  present  there  are  seven  Fathers  and  an 
average  of  fifty  students  and  Brothers  at  the  con- 
vent in  Teutopolis. 

In  1889,  a  large  addition  was  made  to  the  con- 
vent at  a  cost  of  about  $10,000,  consisting  of  a 
new  building,  142x36  feet,  two  stories  in  height. 
There  is  a  carpenter  shop,  20x39  feet,  and  a  boiler 
house  34x28  feet.  Steam-heating  apparatus  was 
put  in  and  other  important  improvements  made, 
including  a  sewer  for  the  use  of  the  convent  and 
schoolhouses. 

The  convent  is  a  school  for  novices  under  the 
care  of  the  Fathers.  Of  the  seven  resident  Fa- 
thers, four  attend  outside  missions.  Rev.  Father 
Paulus  Teroerde  is  guardian  of  the  convent  and 
Rector  of  the  congregation,  Rev.  Father  A  lard  us 
Andrescheck  is  vicar  and  rector  of  Bishop  Creek 
Church,  Rev.  Father  Ludgerus  Glauber  is  master 
of  the  novices,  Rev.  Father  Aloysius  Wiever  is 
rector  of  the  congregation  at  Green  Creek,  Rev. 
Father  Nazarins  Kaiser  is  rector  of  the  congresja- 


594 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  of  Lillyville,  Rev.  Father  Anselmo  Puetz  is 
assistant  of  Teutopolis,  and  Rev.  Father  Bonaven- 
ture  Faulhaber  is  rector  of  Montrose  and  Island 
Grove  congregations.  St.  Francis  Convent  with 
its  contents  is  valued  at  $30.000. 


O.  BERRY  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Berry  &  Robards,  proprietors  of  the  livery, 
feed  and  sale  stable  of  Noble.  The  record 
of  his  life  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in 
Clay  County,  111.,  July  28,  1862,  and  is  one  of  six 
children,  whose  parents  were  Caleb  R.  and  Sarah 
(Humes)  Berry.  The  paternal  grandfather,  Will- 
iam Berry,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  of 
Irish  lineage.  He  came  to  Illinois  about  1833,  and 
was  a  pioneer  of  Clay  County,  locating  there  when 
it  was  almost  an  unbroken  wilderness.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject,  William  Humes, 
was  bom  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German  de- 
scent. In  an  early  day  he  emigrated  to  Indiana, 
and  later  came  to  Illinois.  He  entered  a  farm  in 
the  northern  part  of  Wayne  County,  and  built  a 
house  and  barn  thereon,  but  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  soon -after ward. 

Caleb  Berry  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Clay 
County,  and  in  an  early  day  carried  the  mail  from 
Maysville  to  Fail-field  for  some  _years.  He  lived  upon 
the  old  farm  from  his  marriage  until  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  August  15,  1892,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven.  His  wife  passed  away  on  the 
19th  of  March  previous,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
years.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  The  members  of  their  family  are: 
Mary,  wife  of  Jerry  Purdom;  John  O.,  James, 
Minnie,  Mordica  and  Rufus. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  quietly  upon 
his  father's  farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  left  the  parental  roof  to  make  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  Going  to  Champaign  County,  he 
woiked  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  year, 
and  then  took  up  his  residence  in  Mt.  Pulaski, 
"Logan  County.  Later  we  find  him  in  Macon 


County,  where  he  spent  the  five  succeeding  years 
of  his  life,  after  which  .he  returned  to  Clay  County. 
Three  years  later  he  came  to  Noble,  and  for  two 
seasons  operated  a  gristmill,  after  which  lie  again 
resumed  farming. 

On  the  30th  of  October,  1890,  Mr.  Berry  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Susan  Robards,  a  daughter 
of  John  P.  and  Sophronia  J.  (Deadman)  Robards, 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  lived  in  Lou- 
isville for  some  years.  Two  children  were  born  of 
their  marriage:  Charles  M.,  who  died  June  9, 1892, 
at  the  age  of  seven  months,  and  Charlotte  C.,  an 
infant  daughter. 

After  living  on  his  farm  for  two  years,  Mr. 
Berry  again  came  to  Noble  and  formed  la  partner- 
ship with  his  brother-in-law,  Linn  Robarbs.  They 
bought  out  the  livery  stable  of  Travers  Brothers, 
and  now  carry  on  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  Berry  &  Robards.  They  have  a  good  barn,  well 
supplied  with  everything  in  their  line,  and  from 
the  public  they  receive  a  liberal  patronage.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Berry  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  and  straightforward  and 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings. 


i^EV.  WILLIAM  McCAUGHEY,  one  of  the 
prominent  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  now  resides  in  Olney.  His  many 
friends  and  acquaintances  will  be  glad  to 
see  him  represented  in  this  volume,  and  with 
pleasure  we  present  this  record  of  his  life  to  our 
readers.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  William 
and  Jane  (Jackson)  McCaughey  and  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  The  grandmother  was  an 
own  cousin  of  Andrew  Jackson,  President  of  the 
United  States.  Both  were  members  of  what  was 
once  called  the  Seceder  Church,  but  now  the  United 
Presbyterian.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Robert 
Jackson  McCaughey,  married  Henrietta  Crafft, 
daughter  of  Frederick  and  Margaret  Crafft,  who 
were  of  German  descent.  They  resided  near  Fred- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


595 


eriek  City,  Md.,  and  were  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  Their  daughter,  however,  was  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Rev.  W.  McCaughey  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Massillon,  Stark  County,  Ohio,  September  25, 1829, 
and  was  the  eldest  of  eight  children,  three  sonsand 
five  daughters.  Two  daughters,  Margaret  and 
Keziah  Belle,  are  now  deceased.  The  latter  left 
two  children,  namely:  Harry  Eirst,  a  prominent 
railroad  postal  clerk  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  Mrs. 
Allie  Kern,  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.  The  living 
children  of  the  McCaughey  family  are  Mrs.  Mary 
Alice  Gildersleeve,  of  Hudson,  McLean  County,  111.; 
Helen  Maria,  wife  of  Columbus  C.  Sater,  M.  D., 
also  of  Hudson;  Thomas  Corwin,  a  physician  and 
druggist,  of  Iloopeston,  Vermilion  County,  111.; 
and  Robert  Jackson,  a  commercial  traveler  of  Rip- 
ley,  Brown  County,  Ohio. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  Springfield,  Ohio, 
March  25,  1858,  to  Miss  Lucy  Elizabeth  Alter, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Sprecher,  D.  D.,  President  of  Wittenberg  Col- 
lege. The  lady  is  the  only  sister  of  Hon.  Franklin 
Alter, of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Their  family  was  closely 
related  to  ex-Governor  Reutner,  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  belongs  to  the  new-school  Lutheran  Church. 
The  union  of  Rev.  W.  McCaughey  and  his  wife 
was  blessed  with  a  family  of  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Mary  Elizabeth;  Henrietta  Virginia, now  the 
wife  of  Frank  S.  Gordon,  a  dry-goods  merchant  of 
Greenville,  Darke  County,  Ohio;  William  Franklin, 
a  prominent  worker  in,  and  Assistant  General  Sec- 
retary of,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  State  work  of  Indiana, 
with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.;  Henry 
Alter,  who  is  employed  as  book-keeper  with  Alms 
&  Deopke,  wholesale  and  retail  merchants  of  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio;  Walter  Secrist,  who  is  solicitor  and 
collector  for  D.  Gray  &  Co.'s  underwriters'  insur- 
ance agency  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  Laura  Luella, 
who  is  now  Mrs.  Frederick  C.  Brehm,her  husband  a 
wholesale  paper  merchant  of  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
In  speaking  of  his  famil}',  Mr.  McCaughey  says, 
"Truly  as  parents  we  can  gay  that  we  have  been 
greatly  blessed  and  comforted  in  our  children.  In 
quite  early  life  they  gave  God  their  hearts,  con- 
fessed Christ  as  their  Savior,  united  with  the 
church,  were  heartily  in  sympathy  with  their  fa- 


ther's life  work,  and  had  in  many  ways  greatly 
helped  him  toward  the  upbuilding  of  the  Master's 
kingdom.  We  have  great  reason  to  be  thankful 
to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  the  joy  and  comfort 
which  our  children  have  been  to  us." 

Speaking  of  his  religious  experience,  Mr.  Mc- 
Caughey says  that  he  cannot  recall  a  time,  even 
in  early  childhood,  when  he  did  not  have  religious 
impressions,  and  when  he  could  not  look  forward 
and  see  himself  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  When 
quite  a  small  boy,  he  was  much  impressed  by  read- 
ing a  simple  story  of  Joseph  and  his  brethren.  Not 
long  afterward  he  heard  a  pathetic  sermon  preached 
from  the  text,  "Shall  we  continue  in  sin  that  grace 
may  abound?  God  forbid."  Little  William  went 
home  from  the  service  deeply  impressed,  and  hav- 
ing to  prepare  a  composition  for  school,  he  con- 
cluded to  take  the  same  text  as  his  subject.  He 
did  so,  and  in  the  bar  room  or  office  of  a  large 
country  tavern  wrote  six  four-line  stanzas  of  jing- 
ling rhyme.  Those  stanzas  attracted  considerable 
attention  and  he  was  considered  a  somewhat  poetic 
prodigy,  for  he  was  then  a  little  flaxen-haired  boy, 
whose  head  would  hardly  reach  the  top  of  his 
mother's  dinner  table.  About  the  same  time  a  lady 
came  into  the  community  and  invited  the  parents 
and  their  children  to  meet  at  a  schoolhouse  on 
Sunday  afternoon  to  organize  a  Sunday-school. 
Rev.  Mr.  McCaughey  then  attended  what  was  his 
first  Sunday-school.  Many,  many  years  after  this, 
when  Mr.  McCaughey  had  become  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  an  aged  couple  passed  through  his  town  in 
northeastern  Ohio,  and,  stopping  at  the  hotel  over 
Sunday,  they  inquired  of  the  proprietor,  who  was 
one  of  the  otlicers  of  Mr,  McCaughey's  church, 
concerning  the  principal  church  of  the  place  and 
its  pastor.  When  told  the  name  of  the  pastor,  the 
strange  lady  requested  that  he  be  sent  for,  and 
when  he  arrived  he  found  her  to  be  his  first  Sunday- 
school  teacher.  Calling  him  by  name,  she  said, 
"You  were  the  little  boy  who  sat  on  that  rough 
board  bench,  your  bare  feet  scarcely  touching  the 
rough  floor,  your  hair  as  white  as  your  cJean  tow 
pants,  your  eyes  sparkling  like  two  diamonds, 
your  ears  opened  to  catch  every  word  that  I  ut- 
tered. 1  could  not  but  see,  and  I  felt  it  too,  that 
there  was  in  that  little  uncut  diamond,  that  little 


59fi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


white-haired  boy,  a  future  minister  of  the  Gospel, 
and  often  spoke  of  it  to  my  friends,  then  living  in 
your  community." 

Mr.  McCaughey  was  converted  under  the  preach- 
ing of  Rev.  Peter  J.  Spangler,  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church,  and  was  confirmed  by  him  into 
full  membership  of  that  church  March  23,  1852,  in 
Manchester,  Summit  County,  Ohio.  The  passage 
of  scripture  which  lead  to  his  conversion  was,  "Re- 
pent ye,  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins 
may  be  blotted  out  when  the  times  of  refreshening 
shall  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,"  Acts  iii, 
19.  At  the  time  our  subject  was  engaged  in  teach- 
ing. When  his  school  closed  he  made  a  trip  through 
the  West,  returning  in  the  fall  to  Doylestown, 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  to  the  home  of  his  father, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  the  latter's  death, 
which  occurred  in  February,  1853.  The  following 
April,  he  became  a  student  in  Heidelberg  Univers- 
ity, of  Tiffin,  Ohio.  He  had  only  $28,  but  he  had 
faith  that  the  hand  of  Providence  would  aid  him. 
He  sawed  wood,  swept  the  rooms,  built  fires, 
gathered  ashes  and  sold  them,  worked  in  the  harvest 
fields  during  vacations  and  in  this  way  prepared 
himself  for  the  Master's  work.  After  an  exami- 
nation, he  was  placed  in  the  junior  class  of  the 
scientific  course,  but  he  felt  that  this  permission  so 
kindly  granted  was  hardly  deserved,  and  he  asked 
to  be  allowed  to  remain  in  the  senior  class  two 
years.  This  was  granted,  and  he  graduated  with 
the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  the  Class  of  '56.  The  the- 
ological seminary  of  that  church  being  connected 
with  the  institution,  he  was  enabled  to  pursue  both 
seminary  and  college  branches,  and  hence  made 
double  time.  During  his  second  year  in  the  semi- 
nary, he  supplied  a  vacant  church  in  an  adjoining 
town,  and  after  the  opening  of  the  third  year  he 
was  permitted  by  the  faculty  of  the  seminary  to 
accept  a  regular  call  from  an  old  and  prominent 
church  in  Navarre,  Ohio.  He  was  examimd  and 
licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the  German  Re- 
formed Church  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Rev.  Mr.  McCaughey 's  ordination  sermon  was 
preached  in  Navarre,  January  14.  1857,  by  Rev. 
Louis  Brumer,  of  Massillon,  Ohio,  and  he  also  de- 
livered the  charge  to  the  pastor,  while  Rev.  Samuel 
B.  Leiter,  D.  D.,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 


Rev.  Mr.  McCaughey  remained  in  Navarre  until 
October,  1860,  when  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
in  Akron  City.  While  there  he  erected  a  fine  house 
of  worship,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  that  con- 
gregation of  eight  hundred  members,  now  so  spir- 
itually and  financially,  as  well  as  numerically, 
strong.  In  May,  1863,  he  removed  to  Springfield. 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  about  a  year,  though  .not  of- 
ficially employed,  yet  most  of  the  time  engaged  in 
the  Master's  work.  In  June,  1864,  he  was  called 
to  Greenville,  Ohio,  where  he  organized  and  built 
up  a  large  and  flourishing  church,  and  erected  a 
fine  house  of  worship.  After  eleven  pleasant  years 
spent  at  that  place  he  was  forced  to  resign  on  ac- 
count of  his  health,  October  1, 1874.  The  succeed- 
ing winter  and  spring  he  traveled  for  the  benefit 
of  his  health.  In  the  spring  of  1875,  he  received 
a  unanimous  call  from  the  church  at  Miamisburg, 
Ohio,  where  he  served  as  pastor  until  April  1, 1881. 
Now  came  the  change  in  the  life  of  Rev.  Mr.  Mc- 
Caughey. He  had  faithfully  served  the  Reformed 
Church  for  many  years,  but  he  felt  that  the  exten- 
sive use  of  the  German  language  was  a  hindrance 
to  his  personal  work.  The  Presbyterian  Church 
was  the  church  of  his  fathers,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1881  he  asked  for  a  letter  of  dismissal  from  the 
Reformed  Church  to  the  Dayton  Presbytery  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, and  was  duly  enrolled  as  a  member  of  that 
Presbytery  April  14,  1881,  at  the  regular  spring 
meeting,  at  the  Park  Street  Church,  Dayton,  Ohio. 
During  the  following  summer  and  winter  he  was 
not  employed  officially,  but  nevertheless  generally 
preached  twice  a  day  each  Sunday.  In  the  autumn 
of  1882,  on  account  of  the  climate,  he  went  South 
and  temporarily  took  charge  of  the  Bethel  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Kingston,  Tenn.  In  May,  1883, 
he  came  North  for  the  summer,  and  then  again  went 
to  Kingston.  On  the  9th  of  July,  1884,  entirely 
unsolicited  on  his  part,  he  was  unanimously  elected 
President  of  Sedalia  University,  a  young  and  flour- 
ishing Presbyterian  school  in  Sedalia,  Mo.  He 
there  served  until  July  9,  1885,  when  on  account 
of  financial  reasons  the  connection  was  severed  and 
April  1,  1886,  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Rossville.  Vermilion  County,  111.  To 
that  church  he  had  the  largest  number  of  accessions 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


597 


on  one  day  during  his  entire  ministry,  sixty  join- 
ing. Of  these,  thirty  were  young  men,  and  forty- 
three  of  the  number  were  by  the  profession  of  faith. 

Rev.  Mr.  McCaugliey  was  unanimously  called  to 
the  Olney  Church,  February  1,  1889,  and  has  since 
teen  its  pastor.  Up  to  May  14,  1893,  he  had 
preached  five  thousand  two  hundred  and  eightj'- 
nine  sermons,  delivered  two  thousand  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  lectures,  received  six  hundred 
into  church  relationship  and  from  four  hundred  to 
a  thousand  by  certificate,  baptized  six  hundred  and 
married  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  couples. 
Speaking  of  his  life,  Mr.  McCaugliey  says,"The  Lord 
has  been  remarkably  propitious  to  me  in  my  family, 
in  my  health  and  in  owning  and  blessing  my  work. 
Nevertheless,  I  must  confess  that  I  have  come  far 
short  of  doing  all  that  I  could  for  my  blessed  Mas- 
ter, arid  my  only  prayer  is  that  in  the  end  He  may 
overlook  my  mistakes,  overrule  my  errors  and  with 
His  compassionate  and  loving  voice  say  to  me 
'well  done.'  ' 

Rev.  Mr.  McCaughey  is  a  popular  pulpit  orator, 
being  a  logical  reasoner,  a  fluent,  forcible,  impress- 
ive speaker.  By  his  associates  he  is  recognized  as 
a  scholarly,  refined,  Christian  gentleman.  During 
his  residence  in  Olney  he  has  endeared  himself  to 
the  members  of  his  congregation,  and  enjoys  the 
friendship  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances. 


,  EV.  JAMES  W.  WHARF1,  a  minister  of  the 
Baptist  Church  now  residing  in  Olney, 
claims  England  as  the  land  of  his  birth, 
which  occurred  in  Yorkshire,  March  1, 
1826.  His  parents,  William  and  Mary  (Wright) 
Wharf,  were  also  natives  of  England.  The  father 
was  a  contractor  and  builder  in  stone  and  followed 
that  business  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  until 
1830,  when,  bidding  good-bye  to  his  old  home,  he 
emigrated  to  America.  For  a  short  time  he  lived  in 
Philadelphia,  then  went  to  Pittsburgh,  and  after- 
ward to  Brownsville,  Pa.,  where  he  reared  his  fam- 


ily. His  death  there  occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
eight  years.  He  was  a  member  of  tiie  Methodist 
Church  and  is  a  highly-respected  citizen.  His  first 
wife  died  in  her  fifty  -seventh  year,  after  which  he 
married  Mrs.  Mary  Danks.  The  children  of  the 
first  union  were  William;  James  W%, of  this  sketch; 
Moses,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Eliza- 
beth, who  became  the  wife  of  Pleasant  Cobbs,  by 
whom  she  had  a  son,  William  II.,  who  died  several 
years  ago.  After  his  death,  she  married  Alexander 
Niblo,  who  died  leaving  three  children,  Nathan, 
James  and  Alice.  Margaret,  the  other  member  of 
the  Wharf  family,  became  the  wife  of  Robert 
Stone  and  died  leaving  four  children. 

Our  subject  was  reared  and  educated  in  Browns- 
ville, Pa.,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  marble 
carving,  becoming  a  fine  workman.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  began  studying  for  the  ministry,  and 
two  years  later  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the 
Methodist  Church.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1847,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Willis, 
daughter  of  William  and  Sybil  (Spellman)  Willis, 
natives  of  Knox  County,  Ohio.  Five  children 
graced  this  union.  Mary  E.,  the  eldest,  became  the 
wife  of  Prof.  Harry  E.  Reeves,  by  whom  she  had 
three  children,  Mary  E.,  Harry  and  Ernest.  She 
subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Deacon  Clinton 
J.  Allison,  of  Olney.  William  W.  married  Miss 
Sophrona  Johnson,  of  Efflngham  County,  and  re- 
sides in  Olney.  James  E.,  who  married  Miss  Ade- 
lia  AllisoJi,  is  the  present  Mayor  of  Olney  and  is 
represented  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Emma 
S.  died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Edward  L.,  a 
policeman  of  Olney,  married  Miss  Jennie  Van 
Meter,  by  whom  he  has  two  children,  Mamie  and 
Glenn. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wharf  removed  to  Co- 
shocton,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  two  years,  and  in 
1856  he  came  to  Olney,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  For  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  preach- 
ing as  a  local  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  About  thirty  years  ago  he  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church,  was  ordained  a  minister  and 
served  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  in  Olney  for 
four  years.  He  has  had  charge  of  a  number  of 
different  churches  since  that  time  and  still  devotes 
a  portion  of  his  time  to  ministerial  labor. 


598 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Rev.  J.  W.  Wharf  now  travels  considerably,  do- 
ing evangelistic  work  and  giving  lectures  and  con- 
certs for  the  benefit  of  churches,  while  at  the  same 
lime  he  aids  himself.  He  is  also  the  author  of  a 
book  entitled  "Promiscuous  Poems,"  humorous, 
sentimental  and  instructive,  which  has  received 
many  fine  encomiums  from  the  press.  He  is  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  possesses  fine 
literary  talent.  His  life  has  been  a  noble  one,  de- 
voted largely  to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  by 
example  as  well  as  precept  he  has  led  many  to 
walk  in  the  right  direction. 


()ERY  REV.  HUGOLINE  STORFF,  O.  S.  F., 
Rector  of  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College  of 
Teutopolis,  isa  native  of  Elberfeld, Rhenish 
Prussia.  The  Rev.  Father  was  born  on  the  18th 
of  March,  1859,  and  was  partly  educated  in  his 
native  country,  where  he  attended  the  gymnasium 
and  principal  college  of  his  native  city  for  nearly 
five  years.  He  began  his  classical  course  at  eleven 
years  of  age,  and  at  fifteen  entered  the  Franciscan 
Order.  In  1875,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  came 
direct  to  the  Convent  of  St.  Francis  in  Teutop- 
olis, where  he  continued  his  classical  studies  for  a 
year  and  a-half,  after  which  he  took  a  two  years' 
course  in  philosophy  at  Quincy,  111.,  and  for  three 
years  studied  theology  in  St.  Louis.  At  the  latter 
place  he  was  ordained  priest  in  1882,  by  the  Most 
Rev.  Archbishop  Ryan.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  was  appointed  to  a  professorship  in  the  classical 
department  of  St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  College  at 
Teutopolis.  After  he  had  filled  that  position  for 
six  years,  he  was  appointed  Vice-Rector  of  the  col- 
lege, but  still  continued  to  teach  as  before. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1892,  the  Rev.  IT. 
Storff  was  promoted  and  chosen  Rector  of  the  in- 
stitution, which  position  he  now  holds.  He  has 
been  connected  with  the  college  as  teacher  for 
eleven  years,  and  has  won  distinction  for  his  abil- 
ity and  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  duty. 


The  Rector  possesses  those  peculiar  qualifica- 
tions— thorough  culture,  experience,  executive 
ability  and  patience — that  fit  him  for  the  arduous 
and  responsible  duties  of  his  position.  Under  his 
able  management  the  college  is^enjoying  a  season 
of  prosperity  and  progress  that  adds  to  its  already 
well-established  reputation.  He  is  assisted  by  an 
able  corps  of  teachers,  and  by  their  mutual  efforts 
a  high  standard  of  mental,  moral  and  physical 
development  is  attained  by  a  large  number  of 
students. 


IDEON  B.  DELZELL,  of  West  Liberty, 
proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  shop  and  wagon- 
making  establishment,  is  a  native  of  Tenn- 
essee. Born  in  Blount  County,  on  the  17th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1827,  he  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Dorcas 
(Davis)  Delzell.  His  father,  a  native  of  the  same 
State,  was  of  Irish  lineage,  and  his  mother  was  of 
English  extraction.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  were  highly  respect- 
ed people.  The  former  died  in  April,  1858,  and 
the  latter  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1874.  Their 
ten  children  were:  Mary,  John  N.,  William,  An- 
drew, David,  Gideon  B.,  Robert  A.,  Harvey, 
Teresa  and  Serena  J.  John  Davis,  the  maternal 
grandfather  of  Mr.  Delzell,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  Robert  Delzell,  father  of 
Gideon,  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  His  father  proposed  to  build  a  blacksmith 
shop,  not  fitting  it  up  with  tools,  however,  if  Gid- 
eon would  learn  that  trade,  which  he  did  when 
seventeen  years  of  age.  In  his  native  State  lie 
followed  this  business  until  1850,  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  emigration  to  Crawford  County,  111. 
He  located  in  New  Hebron,  where  the  succeeding 
three  years  of  his  life  were  passed,  and  then  re- 
moved to  a  farm,  which  he  owned  and  operated 
until  1859.  In  that  year  he  sold  his  first  pur- 
chase and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


599 


Riehland  County,  where  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  successfully  until  1883.  In  that  year  he 
again  sold  his  farm,  and  removing  to  West  Liberty, 
opened  a  blacksmith  and  wagon-making  shop, 
which  he  still  carries  on.  Me  thoroughly  under- 
stands his  business,-and  as  his  workmanship  is  equal 
to  that  of  any.,  he  has  built  up  a  good  trade. 

In  1851,  Mr.  Delzell  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Sibby  Wilson,  a  native  of  Blount  County, 
Tenn.,  born  April  24,  1833.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (McKamy)  Wilson;  both  were 
natives  of  Tennessee,  and  of  English  descent. 
Her  maternal  grandfather,  James  McKamy,  served 
as  a  soldier  during  the  entire  eight  years  of  the 
war  for  independence,  and  her  father  served  dur- 
ing the  War  of  1812,as  did  also  the  three  brothers 
of  her  mother.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Delzell  was 
born  in  a  fort  in  Blount  County,  E.  Tenn.,  which 
the  family  was  occupying  as  a  place  of  safety,  to 
escape  death  from  hostile  Cherokee  Indians. 
These  savages  were  waging  war  upon  a  colony  of 
whites  who  had  recently  emigrated  from  Virginia 
and  settled  upon  their  land.  This  land  the  whites 
were  forced  by  the  Government  to  vacate  a  few 
years  later. 

John  and  Mary  Wilson  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  six  grew  to  manhood  and  wo- 
manhood, and  the  four  following  are  living  at  this 
writing  (spring  of  1893),  namely:  Margaret  Ann, 
now  Mrs.  George  Ilamil,  who  resides  in  Tennessee: 
Malissa,  who  married  Andrew  Delzell,  and  resides 
in  Richland  County,  111.;  Sibby,  wife  of  our  subject; 
and  James,  a  farmer  of  Jasper  County,  111. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  four 
children.  Melissa  A.,  born  in  1853,  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  K.  M.  Bussard,  who  is  employed  as  a  traveling 
salesman  for  a  drug  tirm  of  Peoria,  and  resides  in 
Canton,  111.;  Serena  E.,  born  in  1865,  is  the  wife  of 
Andrew  Gaddis,  a  farmer  of  Richland  County; 
Leonides,  born  in  1861,  died  in  infancy;  and  John 
Harvey,  born  in  1863,  died  in  1870. 

Mr.  Delzell  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Democratic  party,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  throughout  life.  He  now  holds 
the  office  of  Township  Supervisor  for  the  fourth 
year,  and  was  Postmaster  of  West  Liberty  during 
Cleveland's  first  administration.  Himself  arid 


wife  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  take  an  active  interest  in  its  upbuilding.  He 
takes  a  commendable  interest  in  all  worthy  enter- 
prises, and  alwa3'S  gives  his  support  to  those  mat- 
ters calculated  to  benefit  the  community. 


HILIP  SHERIDAN  &  ULYSSES  GRANT 
ALCORN  comprise  the  well-known  firm 
of  Alcorn  Brothers,  liverymen  of  OIney. 
Their  parents  are  Col.  W.  E.  and  Mary  J. 
Alcorn,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  Philip  was  born  January  21,  1867, 
and  Hisses  G.  was  born  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1869.  The  birth  of  both  occurred  in  Noble,  and 
their  entire  lives  have  been  spent  in  Richlaud 
County.  With  their  parents  they  came  to  OIney 
in  1880,  and  have  since  made  their  home  in  this 
city.  The  bo3's  were  both  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Noble  and  OIney,  and  were  thus  fitted 
for  the  duties  of  life.  In  his  youth  Grant  learned 
the  painter's  trade.  In  1890  Philip  bought  the 
livery  stable  and  stock. belonging  to  the  estate  of 
W.  C.  Rickard,  and  has  continued  in  business 
since  that  time.  Two  year  later,  in  1892,  he  as- 
sociated with  him  his  brother  Grant,  and  the  busi- 
ness has  since  been  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  Alcorn  Brothers. 

We  now  turn  from  the  business  to  the  private 
lives  of  these  gentlemen.  Philip  Alcorn  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Nobtein,  of  OI- 
ney, and  they  have  a  pleasant  home  in  this  city. 
Ulysses  Grant  married  Miss  Etta  Harris,  a  daugh- 
ter of  J.  W.  C.  and  Harriet  (Jones)  Harris.  Both 
families  have  a  wide  acquaintance  in  this  com- 
munity, and  their  friends  are  many. 

In  their  political  affiliations  the  Alcorn  broth- 
ers have  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  their  father, 
and  both  vote  the  Republican  ticket,  but  neither 
have  been  aspirants  for  public  office.  Socially, 
Philip  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fraternity. 
They  do  a  general  livery  business,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  the  same  carry  on  feed  and  sale  stables. 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Their  barns  are  well  equipped  with  everything  in 
their  Hue,  including  good  horses  and  fine  turn- 
outs, and  from  the  public  they  receive  a  liberal 
patronage,  which  is  well  deserved.  From  the  be- 
ginning they  have  done  a  large  business,  and  their 
earnest  desire  to  please  their  customers  has  gained 
for  them  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all  with 
whom  they  have  been  brought  in  contact. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  the  death  of  Philip 
S.  Alcorn  occurred.  He  passed  away  at  his  home 
in  Olney,  on  the  10th  of  May,  1893,  deeply 
mourned  by  his  many  friends. 


•1L  ARR1SON  II.  POSTLEWAIT,  who  curries 
on  general  farming  on  section  21,  Gran- 
ville  Township,  Jasper  County,  where  he 
owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enty acres  of  land,  was  born  on  section  1,  of  this 
township,  October  26,  1843.  The  Postlewait 
family  is  of  English  origin.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  Isaac  Postlewait,  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  the  mother,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Lucy  Lott,  was  born  in  Virginia.  Leaving  the 
Old  Dominion,  Mr.  Postlewait  removed  to  Ohio  in 
an  early  day,  and  from  there  came  to  Illinois  in 
1840,  making  the  trip  Westward  by  team.  lie  first 
located  in  Clark  County,  where  he  lived  until  his 
removal  to  Jasper  County,  in  1843  or '44.  Tak- 
ing up  his  residence  in  Granville  Township,  he 
began  the  development  of  a  farm.  The  family  bore 
all  the  hardships  and  experiences  of  pioneer  life. 
The  father  died  just  across  the  line  in  Crawford 
County,  August  24,  1858,  and  the  mother  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  in  1865.  They  had  a  family 
of  nine  children,  of  whom  James,  Hannah,  William, 
Deborah,  Rebecca  and  Ruth  are  now  deceased. 
Rachel,  John,  Sarah  A.  and  Harrison  are  still  liv- 
ing at  this  writing,  in  the  summer  of  1893 — one 
in  Crawford  County,  and  the  other  three  in  Jasper 
County. 

In    early  childhood,  our   subject  attended  the 
subscription  schools,  where  he  acquired  a  fair  edu- 


cation. With  his  mother  he  remained  until  eigh- 
teen years  of  age,  when,  prompted  by  patriotic 
impulses,  he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for 
troops,  enlisting  as  a  private  of  Company  E,  Fifty- 
fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  on  the  1st  of  January. 
1862.  He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp 
Dubois.  and  the  first  active  engagement  in  which 
he  participated  was  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
He  aided  in  besieging  that  city  until  its  surrender, 
after  which  he  was  under  fire  at  the  battle  of 
Paducah.  At  the  battle  of  Clarenton,  August  24, 
1864,  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  remained  with  the 
enemy  about  fifteen  days,  in  the  northern  part  of 
Arkansas.  He  was  then  released  and  went  to  St. 
Louis,  where  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fifth  Com- 
pany, First  Battalion  of  paroled  men.  He  then  went 
to  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  but  was  not  again  engaged 
inactive  battle.  He  received  his  discharge  Octo- 
ber 15,  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  as  Corporal. 

Mr.  Postlewait  returned  to  his  home  to  find  that 
Death  had  visited  it  and  taken  from  it  his  mother. 
She  was  a  widow,  and  before  her  death,  like  a  du- 
tiful son,  he  had  sent  her  his  wages  to  help 
maintain  her.  After  his  return,  he  spent  a  few 
months  in  Greenup,  and  then  went  to  Bell  Air. 
For  a  year  he  operated  rented  land,  after  which  he 
worked  in  a  gristmill  in  Bell  Air  for  a  few  months. 
Subsequently  he  carried  on  a  rented  farm  until 
1873,  when  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on 
section  21,  Granville  Township,  and  began  the  de- 
velopment of  the  farm  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  Its  boundaries  he  has  since  extended  until 
now  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  pay  tribute  to 
his  care  and  cultivation. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Postlewait  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Melissa  Doolittle,  and  by  their  union  have 
been  born  nine  children:  Ettie,  who  is  still  living; 
Ida,  who  died  in  1872;  James,  who  died  in  1875; 
John,  David,  Nora,  Wilson,  llarlen  and  Mary.  The 
family  is  one  well  known  in  the  community,  and 
its  members  are  highly  respected. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Postlewait  is  an  Odd 
Fellow,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  All 
educational,  moral  and  social  interests  find  in  him 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


601 


a  friend.  He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen  and  manifests  a  commendable  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  its  upbuilding. 


OBERT  T.  WILSON,  who  since  1890  lived 
a  retired  life  in  West  Liberty,  was  an  hon- 
ored veteran  of  the  late  war.  He  was 
I  born  in  Paris,  Bourbon  County,  Ky.,  April 
6,  1828,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, whose  parents  were  Daniel  and  Rebecca 
(Pierce)  Wilson.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  was  of  English  descent.  He  followed  the 
trade  of  carpentering  for  a  livelihood,  and  lived 
in  Kentucky  until  1832,  when  he  went  to  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding  eleven 
years  of  his  life.  In  1843  he  removed  to  Noble 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  his 
death  in  1875.  His  wife  survived  him  fora  num- 
bei  of  years  and  died  in  1887.  The  living  chil- 
dren of  the  Wilson  family  are:  Emily,  Mary,  Will- 
iam, Eliza,  Maria,  India  and  Theodore.  Friend 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Cross  Keys,  Va.,  while 
serving  as  a  member  of  Company  J,  Twentj'-h'rst 
Ohio  Infantry. 

Robert  Wilson  acquired  the  greater  part  of  his 
education  in  Wheeling,  and  by  his  school  privi- 
leges was  well  fitted  for  the  duties  of  life.  In 
1843  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority, when  he  began  working  at  the  wagon- 
maker's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  about  four- 
teen years.  The  Civil  War  having  broken  out,  he 
then  enlisted,  in  1861,  as  a  private  of  Company  D, 
Forty-second  Ohio  Infantiy,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  Camp  Chase.  His  regiment  was 
commanded  by  President  Garfield,  and  the  first 
active  engagement  in  which  he  participated  was 
at  Middle  Creek.  He  also  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Pound  (Jap,  Cumberland  Gap,  Jackson,  Chick- 
asaw  Bayou,  Arkansas  Post  and  the  sieges  of  Vicks- 
burg  and  Corinth.  After  about  four  years  of 
honorable  service  he  received  his  discharge  in 


1865.  His  faithfulness  and  bravery  had  won  for 
him  promotion,  he  having  been  made  Sergeant  at 
Cumberland,  and  First  Lieutenant  at  Columbus, 
Ohio. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  aid 
Mr.  Wilson  returned  to  the  Buckeye  State,  where 
he  carried  on  carpenter  work  until  1878.  In  that 
year  he  came  to  Jasper  County,  111.,  and,  locating 
in  West  Liberty,  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
acres  in  Fox  Township,  which  he  still  owned  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  This  he  operated  success- 
fully until  1890,  when,  wishing  to  live  a  more  re- 
tired life,  he  leased  his  farm.  He  was  not  long 
spared  to  enjoy  his  leisure,  however,  as  he  died, 
deeply  regretted  by  his  family,  his  friends  and  his 
acquaintances,  March  27,  1893. 

Our  subject  was  married  in  December,  1849,  the 
lad}'  of  his  choice  being  Miss  "Elizabeth  Brown, 
a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Colland) 
Brown.  Six  children  were  born  of  their  union: 
Jaities  B.,  Thomas  G.,  John  W.,  Charles  K.,  Lu- 
ella,  and  Adda,  who  died  in  1872. 

Mr.  Wilson  held  membership  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  with  which  his  wife  is  also  con- 
nected. The  family  is  a  highly  respected  one,  and 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  community. 
In  his  social  relations  our  subject  was  connected 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  his 
political  views  he  was  a  stanch  Republican, having 
supported  that  party  since  attaining  his  majority. 
Mr.  Wilson  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  and  by  his 
good  management,  his  enterprise  and  well-directed 
efforts  he  gained  a  comfortable  competence,  which, 
in  his  latter  years,  enabled  him  to  live  a  retired 
life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil. 


f'OHN  P.  HIGGINS  resides  on  section  35, 
Madison  Township,Ricliland  County,  wheie 
I  he  follows  the  occupation  of  farming.  lie 
is  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the 
community,  and  being  widely  and  favorably 
known  we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life 


602 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Wabash  County,  III.,  March  30, 
1825,  and  in  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, he  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  His  par- 
ents were  William  and  Jane  (Jourden)  Higgins. 
His  father  was  born  in  Genesee  County,  N.  Y., 
December  7,  1800,  and  when  a  small  boy  he  ac- 
companied his  father  and  grandfather  with  their 
respective  families  to  Illinois.  At  that  time  a 
colony  of  thirteen  families  emigrated  to  Wabash 
County,  and  were  among  its  first  settlers.  The 
only  road  across  the  country  at  that  time  was 
known  as  the  ''trace"  road,  which  led  from  Vineen- 
nes,  Ind.,  to  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

William  Higgins  remained  in  Wabash  County 
until  1828,  when  he  came  to  what  is  now  Rich- 
land  County,  but  was  then  a  part  of  Lawrence 
County.  He  entered  land  from  the  Government 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm.  lie  was  a 
great  hunter,  and  in  three  days  killed  twenty-four 
deer.  He  also  ran  a  flatboat  from  this  place  to 
New  Orleans  by  way  of  the  Bonpas,Wabash  and  Mis- 
sissippi Rivers  for  about  seven  years.  He  was 
Postmaster  of  Bonpas  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. Leading  and  influential  in  all  public  affairs, 
he  took  "a  very  prominent  part  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  the  county  in  an  early  day,  and 
is  numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers.  He  died 
January  12,  1863,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years, 
and,  like  his  parents  and  grandparents,  was  buried 
in  Lancaster  Cemetery.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
in  Hard  in  County,  Ky.,  in  1797,  accompanied  her 
parents  to  Wnhash  County  in  an  early  day.  She 
died  a  few  years  later  than  her  husband  and  sleeps 
by  his  side  in  Lancaster  Cemetery.  Only  two 
children  of  the  Higgins  family  are  now  living. 
George  W.,  the  eldest,  died  in  Richlaud  County 
in  April,  1855;  John  is  the  second  in  order  of 
birth;  William  J.  went  to  California  in  1855,  and 
died  soon  afterward;  Louis  W.  died  in  California 
in  1853;  Anson  II.  died  in  this  county  April  30, 
1874;  Sarah  E.,  who  was  born  in  1834,  is  the  wife 
of  I.  M.  Key,  a  farmer  of  Indian  Territory;  Ver- 
melia  K.,  wife  of  James  Sorkley,died  in  1873. 

Mr.  Higgins  whose  name  heads  this  record  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  had  attained  his 


majority,  working  on  the  farm  during  the  summer 
and  hunting  during  the  winter  season.  He  also 
made  several  trips  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans. 
On  the  26th  of  October,  1848,  he  wedded  Miss 
Mary  K.  Key,  who  was  born  January  1,  1828,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Runnels)  Key. 
Her  father  came  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in 
1818,  locating  in  Wabasli  County.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  Richland  County,  June  8,  1857,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  Sugar  Creek  Cemetery. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  maiden  of  six- 
teen summers.  She  died  in  this  county  in  the 
year  1872,  and  was  also  laid  to  rest  in  Sugar 
Creek  Cemetery.  The  following  children  were 
born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Key:  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Thomas  Wier,  a  resident  of  Mt.  Vernon,  111.; 
Nancy,  widow  of  Thomas  Parker,  a  resident  of 
Wa}'ne  County;  Mary,  wife  of  our  subject;  Thomas 
II.,  deceased;  Martha,  who  has  also  passed  away; 
Henry,  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Caroline,  wife  of 
William  Barton,  a  farmer  of  Richland  County; 
and  Emma,  wife  of  Edwin  Risley,  an  agriculturist 
of  Wabash  County,  111. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Higgins  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  the  farm  which  is  still  their  home.  One 
child  came  to  bless  their  union,  Louis  D.,  who  was 
born  in  September,  1849,  and  died  in  April,  1859. 
On  the  26th  of  April  of  the  last-named  year,  our 
subject  left  home  with  an  ox-team  for  the  West,  his 
objective  point  being  Pike's  Peak,  but  he  changed 
his  mind  and  went  through  to  California  by  way 
of  Oregon,  the  trip  taking  five  months  and  eleven 
days.  He  spent  some  time  mining  and  was  vari- 
ously employed  during  his  stay  in  the  Golden 
State,  and  worked  for  a  time  for  Maj.  Bidwell, 
who  was  candidate  for  President  on  the  Prohibi- 
tion ticket  in  1892.  While  thus  emplo\'ed  he 
killed  a  grizzly  bear  on  Bid  well's  ranch  in  Butte 
County,  Cal.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  1860, 
arriving  December  12,  coming  by  way  of  Arizona 
and  Old  and  New  Mexico. 

The  farm  upon  which  he  began  his  married  life 
was  at  first  only  forty  acres  in  extent,  but  our 
subject  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  its  cultiva- 
tion, and  also  dealt  in  cattle  for  several  years  in 
this  and  adjoining  counties.  His  business  under- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


603 


takings  proved  successful,  and  as  his  financial  re- 
sources increased,  he  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  until  it  now  comprises  three  hundred  and 
thirteen  acres,  which  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  The  beau- 
tiful country  home  is  surrounded  by  well-tilled 
fields,  and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place  indi- 
cates the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  For 
many  years  Mr.  Higgins  supported  the  Republican 
party,  but  is  now  independent  in  politics.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  to  its  support  he  contributes  liber- 
ally, although  he  is  not  connected  with  any  relig- 
ious denomination.  Mr.  Higgins'  business  career 
has  not  only  been  an  upright  and  honorable  one, 
but  has  been  a  successful  one  as  well.  He  started 
out  in  life  empty-handed,  but  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward,  and  the  difficulties  he  has  en- 
countered have  only  seemed  to  make  him  labor  all 
the  more  earnestly  for  his  success.  He  has  now 
attained  a  position  of  wealth  and  influence,  and  at 
the  same  time  has  won  and  retains  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  all. 


i\EV.  HENRY  Y.  KELLAR,  an  active  minis- 
ter of  the  Christian  Church,  residing  at 
Ettingham,  and  now  serving  as  paster  of 
the  congregation  of  his  church  in  Bush  ton, 
was  born  in  Oldham  County,  Ky.,  on  the  16th  of 
August,  1825,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Abram  II. 
and  Nancy  J.  (Ilitt)  Kellar.  His  father  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  during  his  infancy  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Tennessee,  whence  the  family  removed 
to  Kentucky  when  he  was  four  years  old.  There 
he  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Miss  Nancy  J. 
Hitt,  a  native  of  Lexington,  that  State.  They  af- 
terward became  residents  of  what  is  now  Moultrie 
County,  111.,  then  a  part  of  Macon  County.  The 
Rev.  Abram  Kellar  was  a  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church,  and  also  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. He  purchased  a  large  farm,  on  a  part  of  which 


is  now  located  the  town  of  Lovington.  He  was 
active  and  influential  in  public  affairs  and  bore  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  organization  of  Moultrie 
County.  This  worthy  gentleman  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  on  the  23d  of  July,  1855.  Mrs.  Kellar 
survived  her  husband  for  many  years,  passing 
away  April  6,  1876. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Kellar  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents  in  1832,  and  as  the  country 
was  then  new,  he  received  but  limited  educational 
advantages,  only  such  as  the  district  schools  of  that 
day  afforded.  He  had  the  advantages,  however, 
of  a  good  library  in  his  own  home,  and  he  found 
access  to  Latin  and  Greek  textbooks,  which  lan- 
guages he  studied  by  himself  until  he  had  acquired 
a  fair  classical  education.  When  in  his  twenty- 
first  year  he  began  teaching  school,  and  followed 
that  vocation  for  some  time.  For  two  years  he 
was  Principal  of  the  Moultrie  Academy  at  Sullivan, 
111.,  which  was  controlled  by  the  Christian  Church. 
In  September,  1850,  Mr.  Kellar  was  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Lovington, 
111.,  and  began  preaching  at  that  place,  where 
he  remained  as  pastor  for  thirty  years.  He 
also  preached  at  Sullivan,  Windsor,  Hindsboro, 
and  at  various  country  churches.  During  this 
time  he  also  taught  vocal  music  to  a  more  or  less 
extent.  In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  stalwart  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  in  1886  was  the  candidate  of  that 
party  for  State  Senator  from  the  Thirty-third  Dis- 
trict of  Illinois.  He  was  also  his  party's  candidate 
for  County  Surveyor  of  Effingham  County,  but 
was  defeated  in  both  instances,  as  his  party  was  in 
a  large  minority.  He  located  in  Ettingham  in  1888, 
and  purchased  his  present  residence.  He  is  now 
preaching  for  the  Bushton  Church  in  Coles  County, 
and  is  connected  with  the  Southern  Illinois  Min- 
isterial Association. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1847,  Mr.  Kellar  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Oldham  County,  Ky.,  with 
Miss  Elizabeth  II.  Brown,  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children.  Only  one,  however,  is  now  living,  a 
daughter,  Susan  H.,  wife  of  David  Kingrey,  of 
Lovingtou,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 
Mrs.  Kellar  died  July  23,  1866.  On  the  19th  of 
June,  1867,  Mr.  Kellar  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Lizzie  Kerr,  a  teacher 


604 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  prominence  in  Macoupin  County.  She  was 
called  to  the  home  beyond  April  8,  1883.  On  the 
19th  of  November,  1885,  Mr.  Kellar  was  united  in 
marriage  with  his  present  wife  in  Lawrence,  111. 
Her  name  was  Mrs.  Ruth  A.  Allender.  She  was 
the  widow  of  Charles  Allender,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  Robinson,  of  Lawrence  County,  111.  By 
her  former  marriage  she  had  three  children,  but 
only  one  is  living,  Mollie,  now  the  wife  of  Hiram 
G.  Buchanan,  a  resident  of  Lawrence  County. 

Mr.  Kellar  is  a  man  of  superior  ability,  and  has 
done  much  good  work  in  the  cause  of  religion  and 
temperance.  He  has  the  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact,  and  his  friends 
throughout  this  community  are  many. 


lit*®!! 


s>HE  OLNEY    DEMOCRAT   was  established 
by  Messrs.  C.  L.  V.  Tucker  and  Ed  Richard- 
son, in  October,    1891.     These    gentlemen 
were  associated  in  conducting  the  paper  until  No- 


vember, 1892,  when  Mr.  Tucker  retired,  disposing 
of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Stoll,  the  firm  now  being 
Richardson  <fe  Stoll.  The  paper  is  Democratic  in 
political  teachings,  and  is  a  bright,  newsy  sheet, 
well  edited  and  having  a  large  and  constantly  in- 
creasing circulation  in  Richland  County. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  born  in  Lawrence  County, 
111.,  in  1867,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  II.  Richard- 
son, one  of  the  early  settlers  of  that  county.  The 
family  removed  to  Olneyin  1880.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  only  son,  but  there  are  three 
sisters  in  the  family.  Ed  Richardson  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  and  after  his 
school  life  was  ended  was  for  some  lime  employed 
in  the  office  of  the  Olney  Advocate,  where  he  ob- 
tained his  knowledge  of  the  printing  business. 

Mr.  Stoll  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  this 
city,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  1866.  His  father, 
Henry  Stoll,  is  one  of  the  older  settlers  of  Olney, 
and  still  makes  his  home  here.  The  son  attended 
the  public  schools  and  served  his  apprenticeship 
to  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of  the  Olney 
Times.  The  members  of  the  firm  of  Richardson 
<fe  Stoll  are  both  young  men,  enterprising  and  en- 
ergetic, and  will,  no  doubt,  through  life  have  a 
successful  career. 


Adams, John 23 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

Alcorn  Brothers 599 

Aleorn.Col.  W.  E 5*3 

Allanl,  R.  L 615 

Allen,  Hon.  J.  C 234 

Altgeki,  J.  V 187 

Allhouse,  Alexander SOB 

Alvorcl.F.  E 893 

Ambraw  Canning  Co 213 

Anietcr,  Frederick 219 

Armsey.G.  W 298 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 

Austin,  Calvin 301 

Austin  College  3W 

Austin,  Edward IDS 

Austin,  F.  G 448 

Austin,  H.  B 48-2 


B 


Babbs,  W.M 473 

Bailey. C.  L 440 

Bailey,  W.T....^ 4:19 

Bainum,  O..l...^. 481 

Balmer,  Frederick 4(il 

Barrett,  W.  E 5-29 

Basden.  D.  F 874 

Bauer,  P.P 485 

Beals,  A.  H 501 

Bear,  Gottlieb 5-28 

Beaty.  Elishama 559 

Beck,  W.  F 517 

Beckett,  J    H 517 

Beekman,  Cornelius 534 

Berry,  Jacob 4-24 

Berry,  J.  AM,-.; T 1-2:! 

Berry,  J.  0 591 

Betebenner,  J.  L.t 221 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 


Billings,  Peter 323 

Bissell,  L.  H 436 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Blanchanl,  J.  W 459 

Bliss.  Kev.  Alfred s 210 

Bloor,  J.  C :..*..  ...447 

Boley,  W.  E 463 

Bond,  Shadrach Ill 

Boos,  Joseph 497 

Boughaii,  William ir-8 

Bourne,  S.  T 248 

Bower,  G.  W 375 

Bower,  Hon.  William 347 

Brooks,  H.  F 588 

Brooks,  J.  L 512 

Brooks,  Milton 417 

Brooks,  Thomas 566 

Brooks,  W .  H 459 

Broom,  J.  E 520 

Broom,  Rev.  W.  A 626 

Brown,  Absalom 229 

Brown ,  John 3K2 

Brown,  J.  A 199 

Brown,  J.  M : 403 

Buchanan,  James 75 

Bunn,  W.  B 349 

Burnett,  Dwight 420 

Butler.  Charles 3f>9 

Butler,  George 462 

Byers,J.  L 413 

Byrd,  John 505 

Byrne,  N.  W 404 

Byrne,  S.  P 570 


Camp.  John 419 

Campbell,  Hon.  Albert 1!)8 

Canby,  Hon.  R.  S 2tr> 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carpenter,  T.  N 571 

Chapman,  W.  W 4'2'2 

Chauncy,  O.  M 565 

Chestnut,  John 445 

Christian  Church  of  Ef- 

nngham 525 

Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart.  319 


Clark,  George 391 

Clarke,  J.  E.  O 325 

Clem,  Alvin 292 

Cleveland ,  S.  Grover 103 

Coffey,  Rev.  T.  C 553 

Coles,  Edward 115 

Colvin,  James 411 

Colvin,  W.  E 431 

Conner,  Wesley 555 

Cowman,  M.  F 312 

Cronk,  W.  V 218 

Crous,  Harrison 278 

Cullom ,  Shelby  M 175 

Cummins,  Joseph 255 

Curry,  D.  S :»1 


D 


Dailey.C.  E 415 

Daub,  John 530 

Deck,  Harrison 274 

Decker,  T.  J 514 

Delzell,  G.  B 598 

Donaldson,  Joseph 212 

Donaldson,  William 314 

Donat,  Christian 535 

Dorman,J.  H 305 

Douglas,  A.  T 437 

Douglas,  W.  J 233 

Ducey,  Rev.  P.  R 319 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 


Eckley,  Alvin 558 

Edwards,  Ninian 1  HI 

Efflngham  Apple  Orchard 

Company 532 

Efflngham  Baptist  Church.. 588 


Eftlngham     Canning     & 

Wood  Package  Co 581 

EiHngham  City  Schools 359 

Efflngham  First  National. 

Bank 398 

Efflngham  M.  E.  Church 567 

Efflngham  Mercy  Hospital.. 482 

Efflngham  Mfg.  Co 619 

Efflngham  Planing  Mill 398 

Efflngham  Republican 405 

Efflngham  Roller  Mills S57 

Eidson,  W.  H.,  M.  D 241 

Elliott,  John 495 

Elliott,  William 339 

Engel,  Louis 201 

Ervin,  A.  J.,  M.  D 669 

Eversman,  Charles 311 

Eversman,  Henry,  M.  D 449 

Eversman ,  Wood  &  Eng- 

bring 508 

Ewing,  W.  L.  D 127 

Eyer,  Michael 412 


Faller,  Bernard 514 

Farley.  Forrest 338 

Farley,  S.  S 332 

Fausnacht,.!.  J 316 

Fifer,  Joseph  W 183 

Fillmore,  Millard B7 

Fiudley ,  J .  VV 397 

Foltz,  L.  P 469 

Ford,  Thomas 139 

Foster,  M.D..  M.  D 453 

Franke,  A.  A.,M.  D 399 

Franke,  Dr.  J.  G 420 

Franke,  Peter 368 

Franklin,  Christopher 275 

French,  Augustus  C 143 

Fritchey,  Hon.  T.  A 346 

Fritschle,  John 429 

Fry,  Joseph 253 

Fry.R.  T 442 


606 


INDEX. 


G 


Oaffner,  Daniel 350 

Gallagher,  James 273 

Gallagher.  Michael 313 

Gallagher,  J.  M 518 

Gallagher,  John 430 

Gardner,  Thomas 327 

Garfleld,  James  A 95 

Gamier,  Felix 269 

Gesenhues,  Rev.  Herman — 209 

Gibson,  Hon.  J.  W 484 

Gibson.  Smith 427 

Gilford,  W.  A 383 

Gillaspie,  Abraham,  M.  D.  ...549 

Gillespie,  W.  H 554 

Gillmore,  Hon.  William 490 

Gilmore,  J.L *U 

Gilmore,  Hon.  S.  F 249 

Cinder,  Dennis 392 

Ginter,  W.  0 231 

Glathart,  John 344 

Goodart.J.  F 267 

Hosnell.O.  K 48B 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Gravenhoi-st,  A.  A 204 

Gray.O.  W &80 

Groves,  J.  C 418 

Groves,  J.N..M.D 524 

Guess,  G.  W 5(U 

Gunn.J.H 36B 


II 


Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hamilton,  Reuben 266 

Hannaman,  Martin 551 

Hardiek,  H.  H 271 

Hardin,  Hon.  Stephen 223 

Hardsock,  George 493 

Hairah.R.  C r,()S 

Harrison,  Benjamin 107 

Harrison,  Russell 330 

Harrison,  William  Henry 51 

Haselton,  J.  F 381 

Haumesser,  G.  J.  L.,  M.  D...202 

Hawkins,  John 3-21 

Hawkins,  S.  H 270 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

lleap.B.  F 240 

Hedrick,  Edwin 275 

Eledrick,  S.  A 575 

Heindselman,  Caleb 456 

Heii  dselman,  George 232 

Henry,  Osborn 329 

Henry,  R.  J 295 

Hesler,  F.  M 582 

Higgins.J.P 601 

Hill,  John M* 

Holloway.D  H 2:!6 

Hope  Roller  Mills 399 

Homer,  J.  N 288 


Hough ,  L.  M 257 

Howard,  J.  H 470 

Uubrich,  Henry 402 

Huffman,  N.  R 452 

Hunt,  Thomas 391 

Hutchinson,  T.  H 341 


Ireland,  J.  C 280 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  W.  A 290 

Jamison,  P.  M 237 

Jarrett,  Capt.  Samuel 34:1 

Jelterson ,  Thomas 27 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  A.  V 291 

Johnson,  Hale 254 

Johnson,  Moses 576 

Johnson,  W.  B 230 

Johnson,  William 238 

Jones,  W.  M 476 

Jourdan ,  Joseph 294 

Join-dan,  W.  L 2«9 

Junginnnn,  Rev.  Hermann.  .409 


K 


Keefer,  A.  J 539 

Kellar,  Rev.  H.  Y COS 

Keller,  G.  A 405 

Kellogg,  William 543 

Kendall ,  Capt.  C.  D 280 

Kessler,  A.  C 213 

Kingsbury,  H.  H 586 

Kistner,  Christian 276 

Klingensmith,  John 536 

Knoph,  Aden 552 

Koertge,  H.  H 471 

Koontz,  A.  J 436 

Kuster,  John 373 


Larrabee,  James,  M.  D 475 

Larrabee,  J.  H 415 

Lathrop,  Henry 283 

Launor,  Charles 228 

Layton,  William 478 

Leamon ,  James 377 

Leatherman,  C.  P 220 


Le  Crone,  G.  M 200 

Le  Crone,  John,  M.  D 215 

Legg,  Charles,  M.  D 572 

Lewis,  P.  K 4'-'S 

Lincoln,  Abraham 7!> 

List,  A.  M 432 

Litzelmann,  Joseph 345 

Litzelmann,  Joseph,  Sr 495 

Lough,  R.  C 457 

Love.D.R 488 

Loy,  T.  S 217 

Lugeabeel,  W.  E 198 

Lynch,  Col.  John 443 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Mann,  Nicholas 277 

Martin,  T.  J 381 

Martin,  W.  C 214 

Mason,  Ephraim 477 

Mason,  Gilbert 550 

Mason ,  Philip 474 

Matteson,  Joel  A 147 

Matthews,  Milton 510 

Matthews,  Thomas 285 

Mattingly,  Arnold 587 

McCaughey,  Rev.  William... 5s« 

McCauley,  N.  L 561 

McCauley,  S.  C 465 

McDaniel.O.  R 480 

McMurtry,  W.  H 410 

Michael,  J.  F 507 

Mich  I,  Nicholas 466 

Miller,  Hon.  L.  W 388 

Mills,  W.C 31« 

Mitchell,  L.  W 523 

Molitnr,  Rev.  John 227 

Monroe,  James 35 

Morrell,  Elder,  G.  W 583 

Morris,  H.  G 450 

Moutray,  J.  1 401 

Mullins,  Rev.  Harvey 567 

Myers,  John 573 


N 


Negeley,  John 35|8 

Nelson,  Elijah 506 

Xoiiieschy,  Rev.  E 427 

Nigh,  Fuller 307 


o 


Oakes,  J.  M 286 

Ochs,  D.  P 272 

Ochs,  Joseph 483 

Odell,  Lemuel 388 


Oder,  A.  L 561 

O'Donnell,  Thomas 538 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 1S3 

Olney  Bank 3X4 

Olney  Democrat 604 

Olney  First  National  Bank.  .378 
Olney  Paving  Brick  &  Tile 

Co 449 

Olney  M.  E.  Church 532 

Osborn,  J.  A 251 


Palmer,  C.  E 541 

Palmer,  John  M 167 

Palmer,  Osiah 268 

Park.B.F 540 

Parker,  J.  D 210 

Parker,  William 57S 

Parrent,  J.  M 569 

Parrent,  W.  H 354 

Partridge,  Joseph 396 

Partridge,  Joseph ,  Jr 3*0 

Paugh,  J.  C.,  M.  D 247 

People's  Bank 399 

Perry,  J.  F 438 

Pflaum,  P.  D IBS 

Pllum,  Valentine  -'"'- 

Phillips,  William 455 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Polk,  James  K .V.i 

Postlewait,  H.  H 600 

Price,  Thomas 499 

Pruet,  Walter 406 


R 


Raling,  Philip 472 

Reynolds,  John 143 

Richardson,  F.  D 268 

Ridgely ,  Abel 315 

Ridsway,  E.  W.,  M.  D 518 

Ridlen,  J.  S 242 

Rifner,  J.  M 556 

Ri-gs.J.H 333 

Robards.R.  R 513 

Roberts,  John 581 

Robins,  A.  S 365 

Robinson.H.  Ci 3'J9 

Ross.F.  M.. 568 

Rowland,  Hon.  Elbert '£'•* 

Rowland,  T.  H 310 

Runyon,  Godfrey 418 

Runyon,  R.H 279 

Ryun.L.S 579 


Schackmann ,  F.  J 464 

Schackmann,  John .v27 


INDEX. 


607 


Schneider,  Godfrey 503 

Schnelten,  Rev.  J.  B 355 

Schnepper,  John  548 

Schonert,  F.  B 25G 

Schwartz,  Rev.  L.  J 205 

Scott,  O.  S 382 

Scrugham,  John 545 

Shaffer,  J.  R 491 

Shamhart,  John 433 

Sharp,  J.E 285 

Shelby,  W.  T 421 

Shields,  J.  L 5S1 

Shoemaker,  Joseph 460 

Shultz,  Charles 364 

Shup,  F.  L ,.482 

Shup;Hon.  I.  M 324 

Sieiner,  Joseph 358 

Sims,  Milton 259 

Sisters'  School UK 

Skinner,  Rev.  J.  R 258 

Blanker,  Hon.  G.  D 261' 

Slover,  G.  R 358 

Smith,  D.  P -..  .356 

Smith,  S.  F 251 

Smith,  W.  H 410 

Smothers,  I.  A 37i> 

Snider,  William 400 

Sonner,  John 203 

Sotzen,  Jacob 557 

Sparr,  W.  W 288 

Spdtbring,  George 487 

Spring,  Edward 378 

Sprlig,  Henry 326 

Sprinkle,  Michael 198 

Stadge,  Henry 542 

Stanley,  J.  P 45t 

Stevens,  Dr.  Stephen 368 


Storff,  Rev.  Hugoline 598 

Stotler,  R.  N . : 487 

St.  Anthony's  R.  C.  Church. .590 

St.  Francis  R.  C.  Church 591 

St.  Francis  Convent 593 

St.  Joseph's  Diocesan  Col- 
lege  500 

St.  Joseph's  R.  C.  Church. .  ..355 
Swaini,  G.  M 370 


Taylor,  J.  E 47» 

Taylor,  Zachary (i3 

Tedford.R.  S 290 

Teroerde,  Rev.  P.  V 562 

Thomas,  Nathan 273 

Thomas,  W.  H 509 

Thompson,  W.  A.,  M.  D 424 

Tippit,  M.  L 342 

Tippit,  Thomas 380 

Tolliver,  W.  B 399 

Totten,  Martin 337 

Trexler,  Jackson 585 

Tyler,  John 55 


D 


Uptmor,  Clement,  Jr 339 


Uptmor,  J.  H 379 

Uptmor,  J.  H.,  Jr 359 

Utterback,  Martin 35« 


Van  Buren,  Martin  47 

Van  Cleve,  Rev.  William.  ...589 

Vanderhoof ,  G.  V 351 

Vanderhoof ,  R.  H 342 

Van  Matre,  J.  J. 446 

Vawter,  J.  C 302 

Virnich,  Rev.  P.  J 523 


W 


Wagner.G.  J 361 

Wakefield,  W.  L 239 

Walden,  J.  B 33-2 

Walker,  J.B..M.  D 537 

Wallich,  L.  J 203 

Ward,  E.  C 441 

Warfel,  Uriah 451 

Washington,  George 19 

Watkins,  B.  Y 200 

Waxier,  W.  R '. 270 

Weaver,  Jacob 321 

Weidner,  Paul 297 


Wernsing.H.  B 197 

West,  Philip 498 

Wetzel,  Charles 432 

Wharf.  Rev.  J.  W 597 

Wharf,  Hon.  J.  E 348 

Wharton,  W.  H.  H 304 

Wheeler,  David 223 

White.  I.  8 467 

White,  J.  C 383 

Whittaker,  L.  D 298 

Williams,  Hon.  W.  G 51li 

Wilson,  Hon.  E.  8 322 

Wilson,  J.  M 525 

Wilson,  R.  T 601 

Winterringer,  Harris 489 

Winterrowd,  J.  Z 303 

Wise,  John 387 

Wishard,  J.  E 578 

Witcher,  R.  B 591 

Wood,  John 155 

Wooden,  F.  P 320 

Worman,  J.  W.  A 221 

Worman,  Joseph 283 

Wyatt,  A.  J 577 


Y 


Yates,  Richard 159 

Yelch,  Henry 431 

Youngman,  S.  B. ,  M.  D 331 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

Altgeld,  J.  P 18fi 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Austin,  Calvin 300 

Austin,  Edward 194 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  William  H 150 

Bond,  Shadrach 110 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Canby,  Hon.  R.  S 204 

Carlin,  Thomas 134 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 102 

Coles,  Edward 1 14 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 


Ducey ,  Rev.  P.  R 318 

Duncan,  Joseph 130 

Edwards,  Ninian 118 

Ewing,  W.  L.  D 126 

Fifer,  Joseph  W 182 

Fillmore,  Millard 68 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

French ,  Augustus  C 142 

(Sarfleld,  James  A 94 

Gesenhues,  Rev.  H 208 

Grant,  U.  S 86 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison ,  Benjamin IOC 

Harrison,  W.  H 60 

Hayes,  R.  B 90 


Hunt,  Thomas 390 

Hunt,  Mrs.  Thomas 390 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 2li 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Jungmann,  Rev.  Hermann.  .408 

Kuster,  John 372 

Kuster,  Mrs.  John  372 

Lathrop,  Henry 4M 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Molitor,  Rev.  John 228 

Monroe,  James 34 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 162 


Palmer,  John  M ]fi6 

Paugh,  Dr.  J.  C 244 

Paugh,  Mrs.  J.  C 245 

Pierc.  .Franklin 70 

Polk.J.  K 58 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Schnelten,  Rev.  J.  B 354 

Taylor,  Zachary 6i 

Totten,  Martin 336 

Tyler,  John 54 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Virnich,  Rev.  P.  J 522 

Washington,  George 18 

Wood,  John 154 

Yates,  Richard 158 


